Merino: I'm not David Silva, but…
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Mikel Merino is putting a positive spin on his injury-hit start at Arsenal, claiming his assimilation is now going well and there's a chance for him to hit his stride in the second half of the season.
The Gunners had to work hard to finalise a deal for the Spain international late in the transfer window, heightening anticipation about his potential impact on the midfield. Unfortunately, a serious shoulder injury in his first training session, coupled with a lack of pre-season preparation, has slowed the 28-year-old's progress.
As a result, supporters remain divided on whether he's the right fit for the team, especially as some had hoped to recruit a more creative option.
Not deaf to the discussions on the terraces, Merino insists he has plenty to offer, even if his skillset doesn’t match those associated with compatriots who’ve previously thrived in the Premier League.
"I might be big and strong, but that doesn't mean I don't have the other qualities," he told the Evening Standard.
"Obviously, I'm not a David Silva style of player. But all those pass-first mentality, pass and move, keep the ball, don't feel the pressure when you have a player on your back – I think those are things that I have in my game.
"It's about just trying to develop it. But obviously, I'm not going to be the player who moves in the pocket like David Silva did or moves in the pocket like [Andres] Iniesta did. I'm a different kind of player. But yeah, I also have the same mentality as they had."
To be fair to Merino, he’s not the first to need time to adapt to Mikel Arteta’s demands. Both Kai Havertz and Declan Rice have admitted how challenging it was to grasp the tactical nuances thrown at them by the Spaniard, and they too took time to hit their stride.
"I think everything is starting to click for me. I'm starting to finally understand everything perfectly," said Merino.
"I know the rhythms in the team. I know the rhythms in the training sessions. I'm starting to build a relationship with everyone at a deeper level, which needs time. I think this is the right place for me.
"This is a club where you have huge pressure every single game. But as we like to say, pressure is a privilege. If you have pressure, it means that you are fighting for the huge things.
"When I came back, I didn't have a proper pre-season to prepare my legs, to prepare my body, my lungs to this pacey league.
"But I think right now I'm reaching my best level in terms of physicality. And yeah, we'll see in the future. Maybe what was a bad thing becomes a good one because at the end of the season, I'm the fresher one. Who knows?"
Merino didn’t feature during Tuesday’s defeat to former club Newcastle United, which makes you wonder whether he was being held back for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round clash with Manchester United. It would be a great opportunity for him to win over the fans.
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