Arteta Praises ‘Remarkable’ Merino, while Maresca Anticipates Palmer’s Absence from England Fixtures

Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, commended his makeshift centre-forward, Mikel Merino, for securing another vital three points in the Premier League on Sunday, after he netted the solitary goal in a 1-0 triumph over local rivals Chelsea.

Although primarily a midfielder, Merino showcased the instincts of a proven striker, deftly guiding a header from Martin Odegaard over Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, with the ball finding the back of the net at the far post.

“His approach to this is remarkable,” Arteta remarked to the media. “He is eager to grasp every aspect of the game and continually seeks to improve. He holds himself to high standards. Ultimately, he’s the one winning matches for us.”

Merino had previously found the net twice in a 2-0 victory over Leicester City in February, where he came off the bench to spearhead Arsenal’s forward line, a role he has maintained since.

On the topic of the 12-point deficit between Arsenal and the league leaders Liverpool, Arteta emphasised that the team’s focus needed to be on securing victories in every match to reignite their title challenge.

“We need to secure our wins. If we triumph against Fulham, we’ll be in a strong position,” he stated, discussing the Gunners’ upcoming league fixture on April 1, following the international break and an FA Cup weekend.

Like Arsenal, Chelsea were also deprived of several key attacking players, notably their top scorer Cole Palmer, who sustained a muscle injury in training prior to their visit to the Emirates.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca indicated that he did not expect Palmer to be available for England, who have two World Cup qualifying matches against Albania and Latvia in the upcoming week, and expressed hope that the break would be beneficial for him.

“We never wish for injuries to players, but in Cole’s situation, a period of rest, both physically and mentally, could be advantageous,” Maresca commented.