I agree, and I've been agreeing, and I agree above that we look far better starting with a true attacking midfielder on the pitch. We just do. Wish we'd had Eze on at Liverpool in particular because ... look at what he can do.
But in this case, the facts stay the same. After 84 minutes we were a goal down. It isn't fully coherent to insist, having slated Arteta's use of Merino all season, that the actual cleverly placed header Merino actually scored to equalise was a reward for Arteta's bravery in not starting him.
The only way this works is by way of something like declaring the ambient bravery and weight of chances levitated the ball into the net, but they didn't, the ball bounced off the bank manager's head.
Just how it works sometimes, the goals don't come from the place or the players you felt like they should have.
