Emergency striker Mikel Merino a tempting option for Gameweek 11

THIS will not interest Dream Team managers who prefer to play it safe.

But risk-taking gaffers who like bold strategies might be tempted by Mikel Merino (£3.5m) for Gameweek 11.

Arsenal’s No23 has predominantly been deployed as a substitute this season, often coming on in the second half to protect a lead.

However, he occasionally fulfils a different role, that of the emergency striker.

Primarily a combative midfielder, Merino has been deployed as a makeshift target man almost 20 times over the last season and a half, with impressive results.

In 2024/25, the 29-year-old famously scored seven goals across nine outings in the Premier League and Champions League having been asked to lead the line amid an injury crisis.

Mikel Arteta has implemented the same approach since Viktor Gyokeres (£5.4m) picked up an injury against Burnley last Saturday.

Merino replaced the Swedish forward at half time and spearheaded the attack for the remainder for the game as the Gunners won 2-0.

He was tasked with the same role against Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday night and scored a brace for a 16-point return!

Arteta will address the media again before the Gameweek 11 deadline but at this stage it is expected that Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli (£4.1m) will not be available for Arsenal’s trip to the Stadium of Light this weekend.

With Noni Madueke (£3.3m), Kai Havertz (£4.2m) and Gabriel Jesus (£4m) also sidelined, it is highly likely Merino will start up top against Sunderland.

Given Arsenal’s immense form, this makes him not just a viable option in Dream Team but, potentially, an effective differential — he currently features in just 1.5% of teams.

Due to formation restrictions, Dream Team bosses are not allowed to select more than three forwards but recruiting Merino, who is categorised as a midfielder, would essentially allow a fourth — a neat little trick for those keen on maximum firepower.

The Spain international is limited as a striker but has good instincts in the box and is able to remain composed when finishing, a trait relatively rare among duel-winning midfielders.

He’s also a formidable physical presence who wins a lot of headers, adding to Arsenal’s set-piece threat.

More than anything, it’s simply a fact that his strike rate at centre-forward surpasses many specialist No9s.

Merino has been prolific for Spain this calendar year too with eight goals in as many games, including a hat-trick against Turkey.

So what is the case against this strategy?

The main negative is that this ploy is extremely short sighted.

Early reports suggest Gyokeres will be available for the North London derby in Gameweek 12, which would likely mean a return to the bench for Merino.

And so those who do take a punt on the Spaniard will probably have to transfer him out over the international break.

That being said, such a shuffle would almost certainly be beneficial from a financial sense as his price will surely rise once the Gameweek 11 deadline passes, following his 16-point haul in the Czech capital.

This weekend’s fixture isn’t the most favourable as Sunderland have performed superbly since promotion and are currently flying high in fourth.

Regis Le Bris’s side boast the second-best defensive record in the top flight having conceded just eight goals in ten league games.

So it’s not as if Merino is about to be unleashed on Wolves or West Ham.

Even so, Arsenal have been the best team in the country so far this campaign and are heavy favourites to win in the North East.

Over to you, Mikel…

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