Mikel Merino sends message after starring role in Arsenal win and highlights Man City showdown
Mikel Arteta will be spoilt for choice when picking his Arsenal side to face Manchester City following their victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Arsenal opened their Champions League account with three points courtesy of two substitutes coming off the bench to net both goals in a 2-0 win, after Arteta named a starting XI featuring five new signings.
Gabriel Martinelli scored within 36 seconds of his introduction after being teed up by fellow substitute Leandro Trossard, and he then returned the favour on 87 minutes to provide the clincher for the Belgian.
Trossard and Martinelli replaced Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze respectively after the Gunners’ two summer additions failed to fire against the Athletic Bilbao defence, and their contribution leaves Arteta with a selection headache.
Arsenal head into Man City showdown with ‘tough’ victory
Arteta’s side return to North London to face Manchester City on Sunday with a plethora of options for Arteta to select in his front six, with Martinelli and Trossard’s displays both providing food for thought.
If either forward comes into the starting XI against Pep Guardiola‘s side, they may do so in place of Eze on the left flank, giving Arteta a decision to make over whether to move his number 10 into their midfield.
Doing so would force Arteta to drop either Declan Rice or Mikel Merino, and the Spaniard posted on his Instagram story at full-time of Tuesday’s victory after he, Rice and Martin Zubimendi played the full 90.
Merino’s message said: “Tough battle today! Team showed strength and experience and got the 3 points! See you on Sunday!”
Mikel Arteta forced into Arsenal decision after Athletic Bilbao win
Football Insider Verdict
Arsenal won’t be at full strength to face City with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka unlikely to feature, but Chris Sutton noted that Noni Madueke’s “astonishing” early-season form lessens the need for Saka.
Madueke, Eze and Gyokeres have started back-to-back matches in attack and impressed in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, but the Gunners needed Trossard and Martinelli to bail them out in Bilbao.
Arteta therefore has numerous selection decisions to make ahead of his side’s clash with Man City, but with Arsenal’s £245million summer outlay already starting to pay dividends, it’s a welcome headache to have.