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Arsenal’s experiment with Mikel Merino at No 9 did not pay off against West Ham, but Mikel Arteta has continued to show faith in the Spaniard over Raheem Sterling.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made a bold and somewhat controversial decision to stick with his experimental front three despite a disappointing defeat to West Ham United. This decision comes as Arsenal prepares to face Nottingham Forest, a team that has been performing admirably this season.
Arsenal’s recent clash with West Ham ended in a 1-0 defeat, a result that has left many fans and pundits questioning Arteta’s tactical decisions. The Gunners struggled to create and convert opportunities, with their makeshift front three failing to make a significant impact. Mikel Merino, a central midfielder by trade, was deployed as a No. 9, flanked by Leandro Trossard and the young Ethan Nwaneri.
Arteta’s decision to play Merino as a striker was influenced by a series of injuries that have plagued Arsenal’s attacking options. Key players like Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli were all sidelined, forcing Arteta to improvise. Despite the lackluster performance against West Ham, Arteta has chosen to double down on this strategy for the upcoming match against Nottingham Forest.
One of the most surprising aspects of Arteta’s lineup is the continued benching of Raheem Sterling. The former England forward, who joined Arsenal on loan from Chelsea, has struggled to find form this season. Arteta’s decision to keep Sterling on the bench for the Nottingham Forest trip has raised eyebrows, especially given the team’s recent struggles in front of goal.
Ahead of the match against Nottingham Forest, Arteta defended his decision, emphasizing the resilience and ambition of his squad. He acknowledged the challenges posed by injuries and red cards but remained optimistic about the team’s prospects.
Arteta stated, “If somebody tells you at the start of the season, by this time, you have played five times with a red card over half an hour in each of those games, and you have lost this amount of players, what’s the bet? You are in the middle of the table, at least, and you are out of the Champions League. That’s not the situation. So that tells you the resilience, the resources, the ambition that the team has, every individual has and that has been, probably in my time, one of the proudest moments to work in that sense”.
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