Could Merino be Arteta's answer to the Havertz injury blow?
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Kai Havertz's hamstring injury has left Mikel Arteta with a decision to make up front, and football.london reports that Mikel Merino has just made a strong case for himself during the international break.
Havertz returned to Arsenal last week after picking up the injury during Germany's Nations League clash with the Netherlands. He is Arteta's first-choice striker, and with him expected to be unavailable for Saturday's early kick-off against Leeds, the Gunners boss must decide who leads the line in his absence.
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Merino's midweek statement
Merino started on the bench for Spain's Nations League match against Croatia on Tuesday night, with the World Champions trailing 1-0 at the break. He was introduced at half-time and scored the equaliser in the 61st minute before completing the turnaround in the 88th, taking the ball on the turn and finishing left-footed beyond the goalkeeper.
The 30-year-old has filled in as a makeshift striker for Arsenal before, and his profile shares similarities with Havertz's, which could make him an appealing option for Arteta this weekend. His performance for Spain arrives at a useful time, just days before Arsenal's return to Premier League action at the Emirates Stadium.
Competition from Gyokeres
Merino is not the only option available to Arteta. Viktor Gyokeres has also been in red-hot form over the break, starting all four of Sweden's Nations League games and scoring in each of them.
That record means Gyokeres returns to north London full of confidence as well. However, since his move from Sporting CP just over a year ago, he has not yet fully settled into Arteta's system at Arsenal in the way some may have expected.
Picking Merino instead could allow Arsenal to maintain a similar style to when Havertz is in the side, with less tactical adjustment required. That factor may give the midfielder-turned-forward the edge over his teammate for the trip against Leeds.
A selection headache
It remains unclear whether Merino would be considered a long-term solution to Havertz's absence or simply the preferred choice for this particular fixture. Much may depend on how long Havertz is sidelined.
Either way, Arteta now has two players returning from international duty in form and full of confidence, giving him a selection dilemma to solve before Saturday's visit to Leeds.
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