Ahead of Arsenal’s crucial Champions League last-16 tie against PSV Eindhoven, former Gunners midfielder Paul Merson has called on manager Mikel Arteta to rethink his attacking strategy.
Paul Merson: “Sterling must start over Merino in Arsenal’s attack”
Merson believes that deploying Raheem Sterling as the central striker would be more effective than the recent tactic of using midfielder Mikel Merino in that role.
Arsenal’s frontline has been hampered by injuries, leading Arteta to experiment with Merino as a striker.
While Merino did score twice after coming off the bench against Leicester City, Merson remains unconvinced about his suitability for the position.
He expressed his concerns, stating, “I hope Mikel Arteta stops playing Mikel Merino up front. I can’t get my head around that one.
I know he came on against Leicester and scored twice, but Leicester are Leicester; they’re not very good.”
Instead, Merson advocates for Sterling to lead the attack, citing his experience and movement as key assets. He remarked, “I would play Raheem Sterling up front.
He’s lively. Defenders will be happy to play against Merino every day of the week. He’s not a centre forward. At least Sterling’s played up there before.”
Sterling, who joined Arsenal on loan from Chelsea, has struggled to find form this season, netting just one goal across all competitions.
Despite his underwhelming performances, Merson believes that a consistent run of games could help the winger regain his confidence and effectiveness.
He suggested that Arteta should give Sterling the freedom to express himself on the pitch, which could benefit both the player and the team.
Looking ahead to the PSV clash, Merson cautioned that the match could be more challenging than anticipated due to Arsenal’s current injury woes and lack of firepower.
He noted, “This would be a nice draw for Arsenal if they had a full team, but with no firepower now, I don’t see them blowing PSV away. It’s turned into a tricky tie.”
He further emphasized the importance of a strategic approach, given the team’s recent struggles in front of goal.
“Arsenal have failed to score in their last two games, and they only scored against Leicester, who have been letting goals in for fun, in the last 10 minutes,” Merson observed.
As Arsenal prepare for the first leg in Eindhoven, fans and pundits alike will be keen to see if Arteta heeds Merson’s advice and opts for Sterling in the central attacking role.
The decision could play a pivotal role in determining the Gunners’ success in this critical European fixture.
