ARSENAL fans are worried that Mikel Arteta could call off their striker search this summer after Mikel Merino continued his fine form in front of goal.
Merino, 28, scored once again as he helped Spain reach the Nations League final with an astonishing 5-4 victory over France.
The Gunners are crying out for a centre-forward this summer and reports suggest that they will be bringing in a new frontman over the coming months.
Arteta’s injury ravaged side forced him to put central midfielder Merino up top for the latter stages of the season.
And the former Real Sociedad star, who had never played as a striker before, took the opportunity with both hands – scoring seven goals and registering four assists from February onwards.
Now Merino has continued that form with Spain, scoring with a delightful finish on his week foot to help his nation to a dramatic win over France on Thursday night.
As well taken as the goal was, Arsenal fans have been left concerned by the performance – worrying Mikel Arteta will ditch his plans to sign one of Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres in favour of using Merino.
On social media, one wrote: “Merino scoring again for Spain. Yeah there’s no chance Arteta buys a striker this summer…”
While another added: “I’m happy Merino is scoring… but then again, I don’t want Arteta to start getting any ideas”.
A third joked: “What is Mikel Merino doing? Now Mikel Arteta won’t buy a striker.”
And a fourth posted: “Who needs Gyokeres?”
Reports have suggested that one of Sesko or Gyokeres will be Emirates bound come the end of the summer window.
As for Merino’s contribution to Spain, he was one of four different scorers for the European champions in a crazy semi-final.
A Lamine Yamal brace, and goals from Pedri and Nico Williams piled misery on France who put up a late comeback, but still fell short of Spain’s class.
Real Madrid newbie Dean Huijsen was almost on the scoresheet too, but saw his spectacular acrobatic effort ruled out for offside – robbing the 20-year-old of a memorable first goal for the national team.
France managed to force a Dani Vivian own goal, a Kylian Mbappe penalty and a jaw-dropping long-range debut goal from Man City-bound Rayan Cherki.
While Randal Kolo Muani made it 5-4 in injury time, but it wasn’t enough to undo the damage caused by Spain earlier in the game.
Spain will now face Portugal in the Nations League final on Sunday.
That match, hosted at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, will see a match up of the past vs the future when Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, and Lamine Yamal, 17, face off for the first ever time.
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