Why do Arsenal ACTUALLY want Mikel Merino?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- Mikel Merino and Arsenal. A match not touted by many at the start of the summer transfer window, but one that looks increasingly more likely by the day. So, I made it my mission to scour through hours of Merino footage and come up with a complete scouting report on the Spaniard, looking at his profile, his tactical fit and usage by Mikel Arteta, and giving my own opinion on the signing in an in-depth tactical analysis.
Arsenal defeated Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 earlier today at the Emirates stadium.
One of Merino's most interesting aspects is how his temperament differs on the ball the further up the pitch he moves. He is obviously a duelling-phenom, and we cover the out of possession side in depth, as well as his goal scoring potential and relationship on the left-hand-side for the Gunners. AFC look to be trying to sign Merino for a fee around £25million, as Arteta looks to strengthen his midfield.
Mikel Merino has played for Real Sociedad in La Liga for 6 years, and this summer has also been linked with Hansi Flick and his FC Barcelona team. Previously he played for Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund.
Arsenal continue their pre-season preparations for the 2024/24 Premier League season with a game at the Emirates Stadium against Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen, with Oleksadr Zinchenko and Leandro Trossard scoring as this video is being uploaded! Kai Havertz also provided two assists. Granit Xhaka is also returning to the Emirates.
Some of the questions answered in this video involve how Mikel Merino interacts with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber, Jorginho, and many more!
David Raya, William Saliba, Declan Rice, and Aaron Ramsdale have all now returned to pre-season training after their extended breaks after the EUROS.
Other transfers Arsenal have been linked with is Joao Neves, Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokores, Victor Osimhen, Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Ruiz, Pedro Neto, Nico Williams, and more. Which other signings do they need to propel them to the Premier League title?
This channel covers the whole of the Premier League including Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, Manchester United, Eric ten Hag, Newcastle United, Eddie Howe, Aston Villa, Unai Emery, Liverpool, Arne Slot, Chelsea, Enzo Maresca, Tottenham Hotspur or Spurs, Ange Postecoglou, Brighton and Hove Albion, Fabian Hürzeler, West Ham United, Juan Lopetegui, the Champions League and much more!
Other channels: yeah i don't know much about Merino sorry
Harvey, who takes pride in his work: I spent hours and hours scouting Merino to make a quality video
Super kind of you. I didn’t know too much about him a month ago. But over the last few weeks I’ve built up a bank of notes on him. I’m really glad it seemed that way. If he is signed I’ll release another video going into more tactical specifics.
You have enlightened me more about Merino. Thanks
No worries Will! Glad you enjoyed.
Thanks for this in depth analysis Harvey. I think this is the year we win the title. Hope to see more videos throughout the season
Many more on their way. Thanks so much :)
I hope so too. But titles are won by winning more matches than other contenders. Matches are won by scoring more goals than your opponents. Goals are scored by the number of chances created and converted. That's where Arsenal’s problems start and end. We have players that can create lots of chances, but do we have free scoring strikers in the league of Haaland etc? No!!! When teams are compact against us we struggle to break them down through our physical presence and skills. We need more of such to kill off games.
Great analysis, especially the duel winning in the 'frenzy' moments
Pin-ball machine naturalist.
I quickly cleared my schedule to focus on the Harvey Gration Masterpiece on another player!
Since your work in shining the light on Kai Havertz, I’ve not missed anything you say about any player!
Great work.🤝🏾💯
really appreciate the work on this one, learnt a lot about not only Merino but the team as a whole. Great work Harvey!
Super kind. Thank you
Looks like we're going down the route of the big forward signing window.🤩
Whaoooooo!! Never seen such a professional and intelligent content creator. Kudos guy
Very kind. Thanks ever so much❤️
Love the content. Always a refreshing view!
Hope we get Merino + an attacker
Thanks Nick! Glad you enjoyed. We need that moments player now for sure. Someone instinctive, efficient, dynamic.
As always…..top top tier breakdowns 👌🏾! Can definitely see a solid bolstering of our left hand side that will make it difficult for teams to play through. The signing will also improve opportunities for Martinelli in behind, allowing him to utilise his decisiveness in front of goal a lot more this season.
Thanks again; and yes, let's see what Merino brings!
cant wait for the new season to start
Some of the best Arsenal content I've seen online. Fair play to you! Please keep it coming
Thanks so much mate, it will!
Great insight & detail like non other!!!
As for me, I can see him succeed in plays as a target LCM for long ball switches from a deep RB(esp. with timber or saliba) for kai or nelli collecting 2nd balls. & in OOP cases he'll be used to mark runners from deep for passes behind the defence (ala cases of salah, savinho, garnacho,...) as the new trend of plays for unlocking control based teams like pep/arteta. Since cala is good at driving with the ball forward, complemented by merino covering if fast counters are played by opposition.
Thanks so much! I feel like he is someone that fits the role for the lcm extremely well, despite having his flaws.
Another great piece , love what he could bring to the squad ( and teach the other players ) as long as his head is ‘squad’ I’m excited to watch home - as ever good work 👍
Thanks again CT. If you’re enjoying then I’m very happy!
In a fantasy but perhaps plausible future in 2-3 seasons, would like to see MA take the fluid switching to a level where AFC has another player of Odegaard’s skill profile (almost a Ozil “regen”) where the two can partner and move as a unit. They then combine with a player comfortable on both wings (a Nico Williams type rather than a Pepe), and a strong, fast, clinical centre forward.
IMO the current direction works and is nice to see but the cost of it is a level of rigidity and the number of players it takes to get the plan in motion. Lowering it to 4 gives MA 6 players to form a accompanying/supporting structure or alternate approaches that can switch in game. At its peak, IMO it can be very difficult to plan and/or play against. Its “death” less by a sharp spear but by a net like swarm of bees; there is a logic to it but on the receiving end it’s near impossible to figure out in real time. Like under a bee swarm attack, the best one can do is to find shelter; it’s chaos, dominance, and an ordeal.
The only sad part is that it likely means a lot of the current forward players will leave or have rotational roles
Nwaneri is that guy
SUBSCRIBED. What a video. Choice of words, flow of video, clarity of explanation. Im going to be a part of your journey. A new Arsenal Tactico emerges. TH-cam beware
Wow, thank you for such a lovely comment. Truly means a lot. Plenty more coming❤️
Timber, Zinchenko and Calafiori will all excel playing with Merino at no8, all making the left side more dynamic like the right hand side!
Teams will really be worried who we start at LB now!
Love the way you express yourself when narrating …👌🏽
Thanks so much 😊
Will calafiori invert like zinny did today do you think and carry ball forward with his running power can u also see him dropping into a 3 in defence like Lewis skelly has done ?
This just shows how versatile we could be in the 1st and 2nd phases of play, and you didn't even mention Timber. Can't wait for the season to start!
Yeah Lewis Skelly feels like a hybrid of Zinchenko and Calafiori. He has Zinchenko like penetrative ability to break the lines whilst also being comfortable in tight spaces and Calalfiori esque ball carrying where he can easily turn his man and beat him.
I think Cala will have quite a fun role in many respects. MLS has mostly pinched inside to invert, but his cameo vs United was the most Calafiori esque. In the deep build he had a channel running role, in the second phase he was interchanging low and high with Nwaneri. And was in midfield again around United’s box. Think we will see a bit of everything from Calafiori. But he is currently more an arriver than a sitter, which gives us a much needed pushing force in our build up (as opposed to pushing a team back by hitting Havertz long)
@@harveygrationI can see moments where merino would drop into a pivot next to rice and calafiori will rotate positions and advance like tomiaysu did a lot. Also if we were to play timber rb and calafiori lb would both full backs invert in your opinion or would maybe Cala drop into lcb and timber invert
@@rakeshmehta6067it all depends on the game state! We have so much flexibility now
I think a good signing would be The Cannon pod or another big chamnel snapping up Harvey, would be incredible to add to the player analysis, tactics and scouting videos, he clearly does his homework! ⭐
@@danbryanfitness let him do his own thing 👍
Merino is an Arteta regen, even down to the Lego hair
i can see him being like a Dani Ceballos type player.
Hope he’s a bit more successful than that, mate!
@@harveygration oh yeah he will be for sure, just reminds me of him how he carry’s him self
Gonna subscribe because you actually observe what is going on not make assumptions like even some of the most popular tactic channels do not saying names. The idea alone that Rice is forever subjugated to being an "8" because "Arsenal didn't build up as well" is a narrative that has very quickly spun out of control.
Don't even get me started on channels suggesting Calafiori will not get in at left back over Zinchenko when it's clear stemming back to last season we are no longer married to the inverted left back role. 4-2-2-2 or 4-2-3-1 with wide / holding fullbacks is where I foresee us building a platform this year. We're going to get Martinelli and Saka closer to the goal and not allow teams to double up and shut down our width anymore
I love your contents always, i never miss any, keep it up
Very kind of you. Glad you are enjoying❤️
Wow wish to see him against Aston Villa.We now want the title.
Merino is a versatile midfielder. He can play both the no.6 and no. 8 roles. He can deputise all positions across midfield for Partey, Rice or Odagaard. Fabio Vieira despite having two seasons with us has not proven that he can fill the void of Martin Odagaard nor Bukayo Saka. Thus, making the signing of Mikel Merino is ever so vital.
Bro, you know how to analyse a midfield and a midfielder. This is brilliant analysis!!!
Very kind of you. So glad you enjoyed
Pretty deep and good analysis and video bro. Subbed and bin icon done for all future videos from India. Keep making more in the future. COYG
Thanks so much. Lots more coming. Welcome ❤️
Awesome video as always
Miss your contents while you were away.
Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed. Lots coming up! ❤️
Great vid COYG
❤️
Love this sort of content. Great work Harvey.
You’re very welcome.
Great analysis!
Harvey cooking here man. This is top work. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Very kind of you. Thanks so much ❤️🔥
Another great video mate
Thanks Joe mate. So kind of you to take the time to comment :))
brilliant video, first time viewer!
Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it:)
Insightful. Bless you brother ❤
Thank you so much. So glad you enjoyed ❤️
Hi harvey correct me if I'm wrong. From what im getting here, Merino appears to be the player who turns back on the music when its turned off (re-circulates controlled possession when there is disruption in the play) and allows arsenal to continue their playing game.
Just wondering if that rules out any thiught of Arteta looking for a No.6 progessor like a jorginho and bruno. Would Rice and Merino interchanging at times, be a better solution?
I don’t think Merino is the long term placeholder for how we compose our midfield, but more an excellent fit for its current role, and someone who can add brilliant squad value going into the future. Long term I have Rice in the 6 and your progressive monster to his left. But it’s more a question for Mikel!
Ive just found your channel.
Great analysis mate.
Thanks so much! More to come! ❤️❤️
Arsenal want to dominate midfield battle with merino
Great video, instantly subscribed.
Welcome ❤️ very kind 😊
I really enjoyed this analysis. Very detailed and creative. Who do you see as the ideal x factor no.6 to break the lines?
Long term, Rice is the Arsenal 6; and I think next to him in the lcm we have another all star progressor (pick your type: passer, carrier, bit of everything etc). Don’t think we are close to the composition Mikel wants long term but this isn’t a window for that
@@harveygration I am hopeful Rice will improve on those line breaking passes. But as you suggested, I think we can work around it getting a LCM and inverted full backs. Would you take Frenkie De Jong to be that matchee signing if we could affort him?
He doesnt Treat the ball like a hot potato!😂❤
He' Arsenal's equivalent of Rodri... even his understudy in the Spanish team.
I just watched ur analysis on Merino infact he's more riches in the midfield than Xaka n he's own kind of play is more organic
Then I want to ask a question. Can Merino play in the position of Odegard cause we've not seen any replicant of Odegard
Ethan/fabio r odegaard subs. Merino suits the rhs angles v much actually but not the solution for us
Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome :)
my g
❤️
I think Merino is the partey replacement and we will wait till January to sign him if need be
Merino is LCM
How far is Nwaneri away from first team?
You’ve mentioned us not having that overlapping runner profile on the LHS before, do you think Lewis-Skelly can solve those issues? He’s so good at eating up ground and driving with the ball I can only assume he’d be able to fill that role
I think it’s more the lack of specialist. Calafiori is best suited, but will make arrivals as opposed to holding width. We can approximate enough with the left footedness of a Nwaneri or Merino, so it’s not really as big of an issue now with the natural left footedness available. MLS can do that in that sprightly everywhere left back birth, but his best work comes in the middle, like Timber
Great video. thx
❤️
Could you see him and Rice interchanging positions in games? Both do seem like hybrid 6s/8s.
I think at times we may see a sprightlier Rice going forward, yes. In the 6 we have to make more of his carries I think. Maybe dropping in between and press breaking from there is another way too
Merino will be our Rodri
Soon you will see Arsenal playing long balls. They need options to play long ball to overcome mid blocks.
Harvey are liverpool favourites for the league if they sign zubimendi and a left back, are they winning it this season?
Zubi to pool has got me thinking. Liverpool still need a big body addition in the middle. Zubi is acc a really decent defender, but not a big space coverer. He solves their on ball issues he’s elite here. Only way I can see slot getting around oop concerns is keeping the lcm and Trent tight with zubi and moving to a true 3cb mould oop. I.e I think they need a left back first, yes.
Gained a sub and a like for this
Very kid of you. Welcome to the fam❤️
Hopefully his like a rodri
gr8 vid
❤️🙏
You know your shit brother
🙏🙏
First time experience of your analysis sharp and incisive. However Xhaka`s goal productivity gives him the edge. Could he be transformed into Viera marauding type under MA tutelage. Your narration is almost poetic. I will be following you
Do you think Fabian Ruiz would offer more than him? I like Merino don't get me wrong, am just curious
Ruiz played the same oop role at the Euros and alongside a lack of duellers in the backline and rest defence wa their main weakness (all off ball). He associates with Arsenal because of the profile, but we would have to make uncomfortable adjustments for someone in another free role with less upside than our other mfs. Merino brings more useful additive qualities (box presence, oop, aggression imo in a squad role capacity)
@@harveygration I get your point and I totally agree, thanks for the reply
@@harveygrationinteresting observation
Great work Harvey
We just added 5 to 10 more goals a season. Great buy.
Think he gives us real presence that I haven’t seen anyone really talk about.
which kinds of matches do we expect to him to play primarily
Great question. Like I said the LCM may well be a carousel next season (Merino, Nwaneri, Rice if Jorg/Partey are in the 6, Havertz LSS, even Zinny now that we have the option of Cala/Timber at LB!). For those v physical matches away at your Newcastles etc, for sure. He can also provide upside vs mid blocks (overloads of the back line, isolating/accessing LW, cheating oppo with another CF). But can also be a good foil in build up in any match.
@@harveygration glad to see he contributes against mid blocks. i have been very concerned about them this window
this is a great analysis
You’re very welcome.
I disagree when you say we need to allow him to have an absence of an X Factor and be that swad player I think Arsenal have moved on from squad players and have become a team that needs real competition for position
are arsenal favourites for the league if we sign merino?
No. Ultimately to see Trossard/Jorginho value from Merino you have to give him the same context where he isn’t looked at to add that level raising quality. Instead, let his couple of additive qualities be really useful in a squad environment and move the needle with other signings.
I hope he's a success
Just dont think he adds yout in possession value
I think it’s fair. But we have to let him be a foil to our in possession stuff, as I said. Let him be neat in the pockets, connect the attack, adds those moments of subtlety he definitely has, but make sure you approximate the progression across the team (I.e not relying on him to force teams back on his own).
Plse sigh merino, what is holding him to come to Emirates?
Soon by the sounds of it
💯 👍
Just looks like Xhaka but less volotile
Many of his middle and final third stuff will be similar. Just has a slightly more aggressive temperament and tempo on the ball
Will he be signed by Arsenal. As if arsenal is just buying time
He looks a good fit but his pass completion % is poor. Not addressed. Watchhim in these clips you wouldn't imagine that esp as he doesn't play that many long balls.?
It’s more nuanced than that imo. Lots of an aggressive punches through the lines, lots of ambition, sociedad r all about moving up the pitch quickly, high line so high regains, circulation very shared. You’re not getting a build up general, but his quality on the ball warrants a better percentage for us.
@@harveygration he looked just our cup of tea in the clips but so did Pepe 🤧. I like the look just wondered about his pass % when mainly short to medium but as you say doesn't mean they aren't ambitious. Should be interesting to see and how he compensates for Rice lack of passing progression if he returns to more 6 ish.. he is definitely aware its s problem and Euros he looked so far off Rodri level in terms of dictating a game it was uncomfortable to watch.. I hope we don't have Zinchenko Timber Calafiori and Tommy playing whist in the treatment room at any point. Too many injury prone not really addressed bar ESR exit and he was dit for more of season than above mentioned.
Lets see if we get Merino first mind you. Our youth strategy has been guzzumted by everyone going youth not realising supply and demand first lesson in economics. But finding value at late 20s now catching up lol. Lets get Merino in before he is any older 🤪
Treating the ball like a hot potato??😂😂
That’s what he doesn’t do😂
Merino > zubimendi
For our lcm role I think that’s fair
@@harveygration for us and our needs in general I’d say
We're not signing him. Edu Gaspar needs to be sacked before we continue to miss out of the signings that would obviously elevate us
Pray do share, after sacking him, we bring who?
Great content en keep it up
Many thanks 🙏
Great report
🙏