Mikel Merino will play as the centre-forward. Mikel Merino is a versatile, strong makeshift centre forward with excellent hold-up play, aerial ability, vision, and intelligent link-up skills.

If Arsenal’s attack is the resistible force, perhaps PSV’s defence is the movable object. A tie of teams meeting for the third consecutive year may be a clash of opposites. The Dutch champions can both score and concede; the perennial English runners-up sometimes do neither.

Merino shone in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at the King Power Stadium, scoring both goals after coming off the bench with just over 20 minutes to go. The dilemma for Mikel Arteta now is whether he starts Merino up front for this weekend’s clash with West Ham, or continues to use him as an impact player from the bench.

Arsenal’s 15-game unbeaten Premier League run came to an end as West Ham United thwarted their attempt to reduce the gap to leaders Liverpool at the top of the table.

Advertisement At a time when manager Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff are searching for new solutions to find goals, could a counter-attacking identity help navigate these final three striker-less months?

Arsenal have been training with different players leading the line and not just midfielder Mikel Merino, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday as the club grapples with an injury crisis that has left them without a recognised striker available.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be faced with another difficult choice this weekend of who to play up front amid their injury crisis, after Mikel Merino scored a brace against Leicester last week as a