Paul Merson expects Mikel Arteta to follow Raheem Sterling in his starting XI for Arsenal’s ‘must-win’ match against West Ham, despite the forward’s ineffective performance at Leicester.
A season-ending injury to Kai Havertz forced Mikel Arteta to field a new-look attack versus the Foxes, prompting some talk of Merino deputising instead of the German as a false nine.
Arteta as a substitute opted to place his faith in a frontline of Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri and Sterling, who were frustrated by Premier League strugglers Leicester for essentially the most part on the King Power Stadium.
Sterling’s display was especially disappointing and the England international was taken off midway through the second half, with Merino introduced up front for the ultimate 20 minutes.
The substitution proved a masterstroke as Merino headed home a pinpoint cross from man-of-the-match Nwaneri to interrupt the deadlock around ten minutes later, before doubling Arsenal’s advantage with an excellent first-time finish on the death.
Merino’s late heroics have inevitably led to calls for the Spaniard to be given the nod from the beginning for this weekend’s London derby – but Merson believes Arteta will resist the urge to make changes up top on the Emirates.
‘Arsenal have a bonus this week since they’re playing before Liverpool. In the event that they beat West Ham, they close the gap at the highest to only five points,’ ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Merson said in his Sportskeeda column.
‘If Liverpool lose to City on Sunday, the title race is wide open! It will still be a tough game for Arsenal, though.
I believed Arsenal struggled against Leicester until Mikel Merino scored two excellent late goals.
‘West Ham were decent against Chelsea, I liked how they played although they lost.’
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Merson added: ‘Arsenal were poor in the primary 70 minutes against Leicester. The football wasn’t free-flowing in any respect. I used to be gutted for Raheem Sterling because for some reason he just can’t appear to get going at Arsenal.
‘Despite his goal within the last game, I feel Merino might be left on the bench here. I expect Mikel Arteta to make use of the identical front three he used against Leicester.
‘If it doesn’t work out he can all the time bring Merino on and hope for a similar result.’
Though wary of the threat West Ham pose on the counter-attack, Merson predicts second-placed Arsenal will come away from Saturday’s all-London affair with a 1-0 victory.
‘West Ham will come out and frustrate Arsenal on this game, plus the Hammers have the firepower in the shape of players who can pick you off,’ he continued.
‘Also they are a greater team in games where they’re forced to depend on counter-attack.
‘Arsenal have a tough run of fixtures after this game. This can be a must-win clash and they have to take a look at one game at a time slightly than getting too ahead of themselves. This title remains to be well out of their hands, though.’
Arteta was quick to defend Sterling’s showing against Leicester, as a substitute specializing in the team’s shortcomings as an entire which he felt made life ‘very difficult’ for his attack.
Asked whether the Chelsea loanee might have more game-time to accumulate his confidence, Arteta responded: ‘Yeah… and, as well, I feel from everybody, to step up their game.
‘In the primary half, especially in the primary 20 to 25 minutes, we weren’t at our standards and it’s very difficult for our front players.’
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