Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta labelled stand-in striker Mikel Merino as ‘phenomenal’ after his newest header put the Gunners on monitor for a 2-0 win at home to Brentford.
With most of Arteta’s forwards out of motion in current weeks the Spanish midfielder has been requested to steer the road.
And he has performed it brilliantly, together with his positive header from Ben White’s cross his ninth Premier League aim of the calendar yr.
No different Arsenal participant can match that tally, whereas because the begin of final season, no Premier League participant has scored extra headed targets in all competitions than Merino’s eight.
Arteta advised Sky Sports activities: “It’s unbelievable what he has performed once more right this moment, not solely the aim as a result of the aim is magnificent.
“However the motion, the standard, the end, how he occasions it…after which his work-rate. It’s phenomenal.
“One-nil is rarely sufficient in opposition to Brentford however I assumed we dominated the sport and created the most important probabilities.
“General I’m very comfortable.”
Arteta is with out first-choice defenders William Saliba and Gabriel and noticed Cristhian Mosquera have to get replaced early on, whereas Declan Rice limped off late within the recreation.
Arteta stated: “We’ll know extra tomorrow. They must be examined. Declan needed to come off – let’s see who is obtainable.”
The Gunners subsequent play Aston Villa within the early recreation on Saturday the place a win would see them go eight poinst clear.
