Share this @internewscast.com

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has again been trusted to lead the line for Mikel Arteta despite the experiment failing miserably against West Ham last weekend.

Merino, who is a central midfielder by trade, started at No 9 for Arsenal against the Hammers after scoring twice off the bench during his side’s 2-0 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium earlier this month.

Arteta has been forced to improvise in attack of late with Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli all injured during this decisive stage of the Premier League campaign.

However, despite their attack proving toothless against the Hammers, Arteta has doubled down on the strategy against high-flying Nottingham Forest, who sit six points behind in third place. 

His decision means former England forward Raheem Sterling starts on the bench again at the City Ground, with Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri partnering Merino in attack.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino (above) has again been trusted to lead the line for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino (above) has again been trusted to lead the line for Mikel Arteta

The experiment of playing Merino at No 9 ultimately failed in Arsenal's defeat by West Ham

The experiment of playing Merino at No 9 ultimately failed in Arsenal’s defeat by West Ham

The decision means ex-England forward Raheem Sterling starts on the bench again at Forest

The decision means ex-England forward Raheem Sterling starts on the bench again at Forest

Arteta insisted ahead of Wednesday’s match that he will give up chasing the Premier League title ‘over my dead body’ after slipping 11 points behind Liverpool — but believes Arsenal have done well to be above midtable because of injuries and red cards. 

He said: ‘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.

‘The thing is that when you are there, you want more and you want more and you want more. And I’m not going to stop over my dead body.

‘We’ll stop thinking that way and putting everything in that we possibly can to increase the probability of us winning and being better than the opponent and hitting that performance and those standards constantly, regardless of what happens.’

Just five days ago, Arteta urged Sterling to step up, insisting ‘we really need him’ to help bolster Arsenal’s injury-depleted frontline.

But successive starts on the bench means Sterling has still only started four Premier League games to date this season, having underwhelmed since signing on loan from Chelsea on summer transfer deadline day.

Arteta insisted ahead of Wednesday's match at the City Ground that he will give up chasing the Premier League title ‘over my dead body’, after Liverpool went 11 points clear at the summit

Arteta insisted ahead of Wednesday’s match at the City Ground that he will give up chasing the Premier League title ‘over my dead body’, after Liverpool went 11 points clear at the summit

Kai Havertz's injury on training camp in Dubai has forced Arteta to improvise in attack of late

Kai Havertz’s injury on training camp in Dubai has forced Arteta to improvise in attack of late 

Ahead of Saturday’s defeat by West Ham, Arteta said: ‘Yeah (Sterling can have a big impact), and he has to have it because we really need him. 

‘Hopefully he’s not (low on confidence) because we try to give him as much as possible, but that’s a question for him.

‘But we are all behind him, we want the best for him. It’s going to be really important and we need his best. We need the players only with that mindset, to be here to impact the team.’

Arsenal XI vs Nottingham Forest: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Jorginho, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Heartache for Unlucky Rabbitohs Player Faces Major Setback Upon Injury Recovery—Here’s Why Fans Are Fuming

Brandon Smith’s much-anticipated comeback from an anterior cruciate ligament tear ended in…

Diogo Jota’s 200mph Lamborghini: Liverpool Player and Brother in £180k Sports Car Lose Control During Overtake Attempt

Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre are understood to have been driving…

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO WOMEN’S EUROS: Top Contenders, Important Players, and Off-Field Drama as the Lionesses Pursue Victory Once More

The Lionesses kick off their Women’s European Championship campaign on Saturday as…

INSIDE RANGERS: Despite the Ibrox board’s possible connections to Leeds, don’t expect any friendly discussions between their rival managers!

With the 49ers Enterprises on board at both clubs, there will naturally…

Boxer and Influencer Stefi Cohen Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge Following Last Year’s Leak of Ex’s New Partner’s Photos

Former powerlifter and now a professional boxer, Stefi Cohen, has been detained…

Celebrating 30 Years: Unveiling the New Retro Jersey

Major League Soccer have revealed the official jersey for the 2025 MLS…

Kalvin Phillips Joins West Ham on Loan from Man City, Future Remains Uncertain

Kalvin Phillips has completed his move to West Ham, joining on-loan from…

Tottenham Unveils Stylish 2025/26 Away Kit Celebrating Champions League Comeback

Tottenham Hotspur has unveiled its eye-catching new away kit for the 2025/26…

How Arsenal Secured Martin Zubimendi: Real Madrid’s Missed Opportunity, Man City’s Short Interest, and the Impact of the £51m Deal on Declan Rice

Europe’s elite had registered their interest. Real Madrid tried to swoop in.…

CELTIC INSIDER: Will a sibling of a past Celtic prodigy find success at Parkhead?

The younger brother of Karamoko Dembele has signed his first professional deal…

Ex-Championship Manager Finds New Role at Airport After Dismissal

In February 2025, Luke Williams was sacked as Swansea City manager after…