Unlocking Arsenal's Potential: Mikel Merino's Impact on the Midfield

How does Mikel Moreno transform Arsenal's midfield? Indirectly, they're going to be collectively tied into how your team is played. Now, typically, Arsenal for the last two years, specifically the first year under Declan Rice, were on the front foot a lot, were dominating games a lot. So naturally, someone like Declan Rice is going to have less than Mikel Moreno. But where you look at tackles made, aerial success rates, draws won, you could see how both individually Mikel Arteta wants to bring them in or has brought them in, and collectively how they can both be all-action tenacious midfielders across every phase of play for Arsenal Football Club in the midfield people. As you can see, naturally, what would kind of excite me would typically be the interceptions, the ball recoveries, the draws won, if I'm honest with you, not necessarily chances created. Because although Mikel Moreno, being a Spanish midfielder and a European Championship Spanish midfielder, he's going to be talented on the ball. And we all know what Declan Rice brings. If you were to break it down, the silky eye-of-the-needle defence, splitting passes, you won't describe those as strengths. And they haven't both got to this point because of that. With the greatest of respect to them, where you look at some of Declan Rice's existing teammates, either at Arsenal or England, or obviously West Ham previously. And with the greatest of respect to Mikel Moreno, where you've got the Yalmaos, the Yalmos, apologies, and all of those kind of guys. They're the piano players. He is a piano pusher. You can't negate the roles of both because everybody has to be utilised in all phases of play. Now, naturally, where we look at midfielders, not necessarily the profiles, but midfield, we all know we have not invested or improved upon the Granit Xhaka departure. Kai Havertz in midfield didn't work. Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira hasn't worked. Partey, Jorginho are midfield options and are probably our strongest if you're excluding Declan Rice. But none of those are like Granit Xhaka replacements. If anything, a player we were linked with in Fabio Ruiz, who there was links of signing him on loan, would be more closely aligned to it, people. But in terms of the dirty work that Granit Xhaka had to do in terms of Duels 1, recoveries made, final third passes vaguely, passes completed and things of that, there are going to be some similarities. But I think we could all safely assume the only way that Mikel Moreno will be replacing Granit Xhaka is literally probably being on the left-hand side of central midfield. Other than that, they're two very different profiles of midfielders. That being said, though, Moreno, again, is not a like-for-like replacement for Xhaka. He's less technically gifted, but he's probably more physically gifted than him in that regards people. He's got a very relatively low passing accuracy, courtesy, as you can see on screen on Sky Sports, of 77%. But that's probably because in his part, there's an inclination to take risks with his distribution on occasion, despite him not necessarily being that player. Now, kind of going to what we spoke about initially, we all know our manager Mikel Ortega loves to win Duels. And where you look at Moreno, he ranks top in the top seven leads for Duels 1. The 28-year-old, who is both a Spanish international and a Spanish international European Championship winner, specialises in winning Duels. He won 326. Now, height is a massive thing. You look at the height that's been introduced since Mikel Ortega has become Arsenal manager, or more specifically, within the last two years. So him signing and standing at six foot two inches continues the theme of Arsenal targeting physically imposing players with the technical ability to provide competencies in the midfield. You look at Declan Rice, you look at Kai Havertz, you could throw Kyle Ofori into that, as well as the existing tool men we have in the side. And you can see Mikel Moreno boasts a formidable strength in terms of aerial drills. So if he's able to win drills on the ground, able to win drills in the air, skilled at stealing possession back and recycling it to his more technically proficient teammates, we're in luck. I mean, again, going on his ball-winning abilities, people. Where you look at his statistics last season, as mentioned, in terms of Duels 1, he was first with 326, with 77 tackles in La Liga that placed him seventh. Aerial Drills 1, he was second with 168. Possession 1 in the middle third, he was fifth with 112. Possession 1 in the attacking third, he was 12th with 21. So you can see the transferables that this man, in theory, brings to Arsenal, assuming we sign him, people. And then you look at the minutes he's played according to positions across the last few seasons. And you can see, you know, specifically, he has played in the lone six. He has played on the right-hand side. But there's quite a significant contrast with him playing on the left-hand side of midfield. He's naturally left-footed. I guess it makes sense. And again, there are some similarities between loosely what Real Sociedad do and what Arsenal, or specifically Arsenal under Mikel Arteta in this 4-3-3 system does. And I mean, he'd be given a chance to have a reunion with Martin Odegaard. Hopefully in the next 12 months, we sign someone like his, I can keep getting the old boys back together, so in theory, he would be reliable in that regard. I personally think in theory, at this moment in time, I would say Declan Rice and Partey would be the first choice pivot. But due to, in my opinion, Moreno's availability, you know, he made over 40 odd appearances last season. Compare that to someone like Partey where two seasons ago he did that, but that would be defined as an anomaly. I think naturally he would end up ending the season as our first choice as we kind of have to wrap Thomas Partey in, you know, in cotton wool. But he would be a great option to have as a rotationary option slash starter. And I mean, he's used to starting games and being very important for his club. If you look at his role during the European Championships for Spain, which again, he was very important, but it kind of could reflect if Arsenal was to be formed into our image that a lot of us fans want, that he would be a rotationary options kind of player. I think he's a player that's got great personality in football in terms. He knows when to pass. He knows where to receive the ball. He's adaptable in different situations. He can pass the ball. He can take on a man and he's strong on the ground and in the air. And at 20, you know, 28 years of age, signing him for 20 to 30 million euros, provided it goes through, it's got no complaints with me. I don't think it's a ceiling razor and it moves the needle and makes me think, wow, we can get closer to Manchester City, but it plugs a gap. It gives us stronger options. And he's a man that fits our system and our in my opinion, you know, to a T. And we've also seen him pop up with a number of headers. We've got a great set-piece coach and I'm sure Mikel Arteta would love to utilise his aerial powers in all phases of the game, people. And I think he's a man that has strong personality and mentality, people, which are the buzzwords, which a lot of Arsenal fans like, people. You know, tactically, I'm not too sure how or what Mikel Arteta has planned for him, but I would say the main thing I'm looking at is some stability on the left-hand side. Martinelli needs to hold his own hands up and deal with his own bad form, but there has to be some contrast with Zinchenko being in and out the side, with Granit Xhaka's void, obviously Declan Rice learning that new left eight position. I think with California signing for the football club and Mikel Moreno, they seem quite durable. That means we should have some permanent fixtures on the left-hand side and we can attempt to be less lopsided as a football team. We all know at Arsenal, if it doesn't come down our right-hand side, typically we are in trouble. One has to wonder as well, you know, where he will play in midfield. You can't rule out Declan Rice remaining on the left-hand side and Moreno going on the right, although, you know, they'd be on opposite sides according to the feet that they use. I'm more likely to believe Declan Rice would migrate over to the right-hand side and be, you know, form that contingent with Odegaard, with Xhaka, you know, with Benjamin White, technically with Saliba. Well, as I just suggested earlier, Mikel Moreno would go on the left-hand side and develop a partnership with California and Trossach. And you'd have to give them some time to grow and scope to develop in that regard as well, people. So who knows, but I think it's a good option to have, man. In conclusion, as I said, I think he's more of a floor versus raising the ceiling, but I think he's got the right combinations of skills and experience to be a good and competent signer for us. He's hardworking. He's got a competitive profile. The main thing beyond the obvious is his durability. He rarely gets injured. He wins his duels. He's got a good engine. He's a good passer. There's no real complaints from me. I don't quite agree with all this outsmarting the market and all of that kind of stuff that some people are peddling, but it could be a great addition for us. And I do think, despite that it is a market opportunity, the man's in his last year of his deal, had a good domestic season for Sociedad, had a great international campaign during the summer. He's available at a discount. You know, the reports go as low as €15 million all the way to €30 million. So if he could be signed on like a, you know, a three-year deal with an option of a fourth or a two-year with an option of another one, and we see what he's looking like when he gets to Jorginho and Partey's age, I don't know what to say people. I think it'd be a good sign. And I don't understand some people that are very negative about such. The Athletic have actually said that Arsenal are prepared to step away from the Mourinho deal if it doesn't make sense. And some reports at the time of making this vid have described the deal being imminent as very far off the mark, if that makes sense. So yeah, I just put this short video together to see what you lot are saying. Don't forget to let me know your thoughts. If you want a more in-depth video on Mikel Mourinho, then over a month ago, I did drop a video. So I'd implore you all to go and look at that. Let me know your thoughts on Mourinho signing. Are you happy? Are you sad? Do you think we need any other additions? Where do you think he'll play in midfield? Could he even be a lone six? I'm not too sure people. That's why I'm asking for your thoughts. So don't forget to like, comment and subscribe. Most importantly, stay safe, stay blessed. Peace.