A year ago, the thought of Mikel Merino leading Arsenal’s attack over Viktor Gyökeres would’ve been laughable.
Gyökeres was tearing up defences in Portugal, one of the most feared strikers in Europe. Merino was a hard working midfielder who couldn’t nail down a regular role.
Fast forward to September 2025 and the conversation has flipped. Gyökeres is stumbling through the early weeks of his Arsenal career while Merino is scoring for fun on the international stage.
Could Arteta really drop his €75m signing for a midfielder-turned-striker?
Gyökeres Struggling to Find Rhythm
Arsenal paid big to prise Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP after a season where he scored 54 goals in 52 games across all competitions. It was an incredible return that made him one of the most sought-after forwards in world football.
His Premier League start has been solid on paper – two goals in three matches – but the performances have been far from dominant. Within Arteta’s system he has looked clunky, often mistiming runs and struggling to impose himself physically against deep defences.
The international break only made things worse. For Sweden, Gyökeres was off the pace in both games, his first touch deserting him and his confidence visibly drained. For a striker who was supposed to be Arsenal’s focal point, that’s a worry.
Merino in Red-Hot Form
Mikel Merino, meanwhile, is in the best goalscoring form of his career. In Spain’s World Cup qualifiers this month, he hit four goals in two games, continuing a run that has seen him score six in six internationals in 2025.
At Arsenal last season, injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus forced Arteta into a bold experiment, using Merino as a makeshift No 9. What looked like a desperate stopgap turned into an inspired move. Merino started up front seven times, scoring goals, pressing high and linking play with the composure of a seasoned striker.
This season, he’s been pushed back into midfield but hasn’t locked down a starting spot alongside Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice. Now, with Havertz sidelined long-term and Gyökeres looking tepid, the door is wide open for Merino to reprise his striker role.
Who Gets the Nod?
Arsenal’s title challenge leaves no room for sentiment. Every point matters, and Arteta has to decide between two very different options:
- Gyökeres: The €75m striker, brought in as the long-term solution but yet to convince in Arteta’s system.
- Merino: The in-form midfielder, scoring at will for Spain, proven as a reliable stopgap No. 9 last season.
Dropping Gyökeres this early would be ruthless, even controversial. But persisting with him while he’s short of rhythm could be just as costly in a title race where City and Liverpool won’t blink.
This isn’t the debate Arsenal fans expected to be having. But right now, Mikel Merino has every right to be starting up top. He’s confident, clinical and already understands Arteta’s system inside out. Gyökeres may well become the striker Arsenal thought they were buying, but he doesn’t look ready to carry a title race yet.
Until he sharpens up, the pragmatic call might be the bold one. Start Merino, keep Gyökeres hungry and make the summer’s big-money signing earn his place.
