Mikel Merino spoke to TNT Sports after coming off the bench and scoring two late goals to ensure Arsenal took all three points against Leicester this afternoon.
Here’s what he had to say after the 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium.
What was the instruction coming off the bench?
Well, he told me I was going to come in as a striker. This morning, we were talking about it a little bit with one of the assistants. Honestly, it was a surprise because it’s the first time in my career that I played in that position.
But yeah, he told me to go as a striker, to make sure I go with my strengths. I think I saw it and luckily I could help the team to today.
Will we see more of Merino the striker?
I don’t know, I don’t think so to be honest. You know, it’s funny because I’ve only scored two braces in my career. It’s the first time I’ve scored a brace coming off the bench as a striker.
I think it’s a good day to score because I forgot to give my wife something for Valentine’s Day. So this goes to her. I think she will appreciate this more than a rose or some chocolate.
On a tough day against Leicester …
Yeah, today was a tough game. We knew coming here to this stadium with this team battling relegation, it was going to be tough. But you know, I think these games are the ones that lift the spirits.
Obviously with these amazing fans behind us, everything is easier. So thank you to them, thank you to everyone at home pushing and rooting for us. I mean, this is an amazing team and games like today are really good for the squad.
How good is Nwaneri?
Yes, he’s an amazing player. Every time I do an interview, you guys ask me about him. But I mean, it’s natural because he’s such a talent. Luckily for me, today he crossed the ball. I’ve been talking to him the whole season. I needed those kind of balls when I’m arriving in the box.
And he has such a wonderful left foot that he put it right on my head, so I could only score.
On closing the gap at the top …
This is a long-running season. We have been talking about it since the beginning. We have to keep our foot on the gas. And I think if we keep doing this job, putting pressure on every single game, good things will come in the future.
Very well stood in.
Mikel Batistuta!😉
Our greatest stand-in striker since Chris Whyte!!
or since Kai Havertz.
Merino be my Valentine!* ❤️
With due apologies to Mrs Onenil
…. and Mrs Merino.
Arsenal bought a LCM turns out to be a ST.
That’s second time now
Hope that’s not all you got her buddy!
Mrs Merino: What am I supposed to do with your goals? Wear them?
😂
😂🤣… Like chocolates, eat them.
At least – when it came to her gift – he used his head!
That brace was well knit.
Earned his flowers
Will we see more of Merino the striker?
“I don’t know, I don’t think so to be honest.”
Oh Mikel, you are too humble. You just passed the audition with flying colours.
Him and saliba gonna be arguing in training
The annoying pessimist in me is just thinking pleeeease let that be humility and not based on genuine conversations he’s had with Arteta and the coaching staff. Well out of left field, but given our current options, Merino’s most obvious strengths are absolutely tailor-made for this position in the team. Just a 20 minute cameo and it already feels like it’s his shirt to lose.
As long as Trossard doesn’t start as centre forward and I have to say that I wanted Sterling to do well but he is shot. Finished.
Id like to think he is still going to have a moment like Merino has had today.
Kim Kallstrom appeared at Arsenal with a broken back and still scored a crucial penalty to get us to the cup final!
He also seems quite calm in front of goal. Cold assassin. In general he seems like a very calm guy which can be a very good attribute for a finisher obviously.
A lot of full-time strikers would have got themselves offside for his second goal. It was very calm and clear-headed.
After seeing him in the Euros, it’s no more than I expected of him!
Such a wonderful and insightful player ❤️
Without wanting to be captain neg is tgat just cos he’s not very quick?
This was a joke btw. His movement for both goals is superb.
Scoring twice and dedicating it to valentines day was just straight up throwing it in the face of those of us (who shall remain unnamed) who didn’t score once on valentines day
I forgot to get my partner anything but gave her a card today and now Merino’s embarrassed me all over again
And what if that header wasn’t the only thing he thumped today? If he also ended up scoring where those of you who shall remain unnamed didn’t, does that make it a hat trick?
I think she will appreciate this more than a rose or some chocolate. —> The things men tell themselves
Vardy and Van nisterloy are sad again. Great day.
‘My Bloody Valentine’!
https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/18.Mybloodyvalentine_lovelss_161013-1.jpg
Absolute classic album. Possibly the best band to come out of Ireland except maybe Virgin Prunes.
U2?
Gunners and Roses
So happy for him!!! Loved his reaction to the goals – especially his badge thumping. You had a difficult start to the season & it’s a big adjustment playing in this league for many newcomers, so gratulations for keeping our dreams alive Gunner 😀
Great for him hope he keep scoring till the end of season.. I think sterling is not at arsenal level again no impact and not taking his chances, he’s blocking a patch to unearth new gems at the academy some few minutes to showcase there talent..
He forgot to buy flowers didn’t he
The striker we crave was here and we know not
This interview seems all over the place haha. No way they haven’t worked on Merino as a striker option in Dubai.
Well in Woolly, maybe keep the knives at bay for a while 👌
The goal celebrations for his father, and the goals for his wife. What a guy.
I don’t need no money, fortune, or fame
I’ve got all the riches, baby,one man can claim
Well, I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
My goals,, my goals
Talkin’ ’bout my goals, my goals
We’ve found our Haaland! This striking lark is obviously easier than we all thought.
What the hell? I thought it was for us!
I like this fella.
He’s had the usual Instagrat ‘fans’ dissing him because he didn’t score 6 or create 10 assists in his first 6 games… but he has an aura about him: calm, classy, kinda ‘impregnable’.
I have a sneaky feeling he’s going to be a BIG player for us.
Woooooo-oooooahhhh-oooooo-ahhhh-ohhhhhhh-Mikel-Merinoooo
Great though he was, he still has A LOT of work to do. No way is he so easily forgiven by Señora Merino.