Mik Merino: Page 16 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Mik Merino

daredevil

Yeah, I'm not sure where the DM claims come from. He played as left 8 for Spain and Sociedad.

I'm not writing him off btw, I'm sure he's not even started three games in a row.

lorddulaarsenal

Superb player. Uses the ball so well. Probing passes with disguise on them to ensure the receiver receives it in space and at an angle which prompts their next move.

He’s a duel monster too, which really helps us to pin teams back and suffocate them.

Don Pacifico

lorddulaarsenal he's like the anti-Zinchenko in terms of his economy of touches and time on the ball.

flobaba

I'm a huge fan as well. He's one of the (many) work horses of the team, but it's no coincidence he gets in many decent goal scoring positions - very canny with his movement and definitely crucial to helping us put the loctite on when we are pinning in the opposition

Segway

Merino has perhaps not been the duel monster I expected but he's very intelligent with his positioning and a real presence in the boxes. I think he will improve even more.

Claudius

Does what was advertised. Still think there’s more to come.

Qwiss

He's a very good 4th man in midfield. Reminds me a little of Edu for the Invincibles.

Claudius

Qwiss good comparison. At this point, I don’t think of him as my first midfielder given how well Partey is playing and the heights we’ve seen Rice reach last year. But I’m happy for him to start for a few weeks at a time. Which is what you want beyond your first 11

Coombs

Qwiss love that comparison

banduan

Qwiss He's a very good 4th man in midfield. Reminds me a little of Edu for the Invincibles.

yeah and it's a good thing. I thought he was good this match but didn't exactly set the world alight. The kind of thing you expect a squaddie to be.

Gazza M

centre mid is probably one of the harder positions to acclimatise to under arteta. it takes a solid 3-6 months of regular play to find a decent rhythm. things are set up nicely for him to push on

Claudius

banduan speaking of squaddies, I really love squad usage right now. Everybody in the team can be counted on to play significant minutes and make an impact. We are obviously an attacker short, but we have no hangers-on for the first time.

goon

Claudius

I know it might be fitness/injury related, but I’m glad we’re rotating Rice and Partey too. They’ve booked looked sharper and fitter for it.

Claudius

goon Partey was the liveliest player on the field. Was also most rested. Hopefully, Havertz and Ruce can bring similar energy to Brighton

Qwiss

Claudius definitely helping a lot. I hope its a real eye opener for Mikel now.

The problem rotation-wise at the moment is without Saka available can you ever rest Odegaard? Cup games maybe?

Claudius

Qwiss one of these Newcastle games, and the last Champs league game.

MistaT

Odegaard probably needs the rest after his ankle injury. In his first few games back it was clear his ankle wasn’t 100%, and I’m sure even now he has muscles overcompensating.

flobaba

His ankle is likely fine. He's just off form/rusty. And with the technology, sports science knowledge and the quality of physios all top clubs have today, the risk of overcompensation during recovery is really low. There's stuff out there that lets you work out targeted muscles as normal even when injured, so one doesn't have to lose muscular strength. Improved balance and coordination routines and coaches, flexibility specialists, etc. We are in 2025 bro. Lots of athletes are playing at very high levels for much longer than they used to. They're well taken care of.

HomeSteak

Coombs

HomeSteak he's a utility player with a silly price tag. Was never going to be enough.

RocktheCasbah

HomeSteak I said to Jo at half time, I might be wrong but I've barely noticed him. That's an insane stat, but maybe not surprising - all the talk before we signed him was of a low volume passer.

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