Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterWhen Arsenal pulled the trigger and signed Mikel Merino for �31million from Real Sociedad in the aftermath of Spains Euro 2024 victory, they believed they were landing one of the most complete midfielders in world football.The Basque arrived at the Emirates in time for the prime years of his career, renowned for his technical quality, intelligence and ability to run the game from the middle of the park.Arsenal hoped that he would be one of the final pieces of a title-winning jigsaw, but what he was not brought in for was to play as a Premier League centre-forward.Merino on playing up front for ArsenalBuy an A1 version of FourFourTwo's World Cup wall chart HERE!Large A1 Football Wall Chart with Space for Scores and Predictions: Designed for easy viewing and interaction with room to write results and build predictionsView DealWith Merino in possession of such a complete skillset, he is a coachs dream player and in Mikel Arteta he has a manager ready to think outside of the box.The gaffer is special in terms of the way he communicates his ideas, his passion, reveals Merino to FourFourTwo Its been an amazing two seasons here. Ive learned a lot from Mikel. Hes opened new doors for me in terms of tactics. You may like Declan Rice is a beast Id love to face him or Martin Odegaard at the World Cup Mikel Merino on the prospect of facing his Arsenal team-mates at the World Cup this summer 'The striker position is the most important place to strengthen next year' Ray Parlour on where Arsenal need to improve over the summer Arsenal gambled on Viktor Gyokeres - and now it seems it's cost them the league One of those doors has been the occasional switch to centre-forward a role that Merino had never previously been tasked with. It happened for the first time in February last year, when we went to Dubai for a little warm weather break, he recalls. We had a couple of unfortunate injuries there, and had no other options when we returned.I read on social media that I was going to be played as a striker in the next game against Leicester. I was honestly just laughing, like, How can people say this crap? Id never played there and genuinely wasnt expecting to. But then, before the game, one of the Arsenal coaches came up to me and said, Hey, weve come up with this option of you playing up top its not that youre going to be a striker, youre going to be like a midfielder but playing furthest forward, so dont think too much about being a proper striker.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Thats how it happened. I came into the game with 20 minutes left, we needed a goal and I scored two. The rest is history.What began as necessity increasingly became the norm. I think Ive got the characteristics to be a good striker, he says. Im not the quickest to threaten defenders with pace in behind, but Im smart enough to know where I have to be positioned in the penalty area. Its about reading the little clues I judge those quickly and make my move.During November and December, he chipped in with two goals and three assists from five Premier League matches up front, before switching back to midfield when Viktor Gyokeres returned to full fitness. He would then be sidelined by a foot injury in late January, requiring surgery.When I got injured, it was stressful, because it was such a rare injury that even the specialists were struggling to figure it out, explains the former Borussia Dortmund man. I was worried that Id miss the World Cup. Thankfully, Ive been feeling much better.Merino was able to return to the pitch as a substitute during Arsenals title procession at Selhurst Park on the final day of the season, giving him the green light to continue his key role for Spain boss Luis de la Fuente this summer.During World Cup qualifying, Merino netted six times in six games, including a hat-trick in a 6-0 win in Turkey. That game felt like every ball I was touching, it was creating something, he grins. Even short passes in the middle of the pitch were leading to counter attacks. I guess those moments as a striker at Arsenal have helped me when Im in and around the box the art of putting the ball in the back of the net.TOPICSArsenalWorld CupJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromEd McCambridgeStaff Writer
