Mikel Merino helped Arsenal take the lead against Liverpool with a header.
The Spanish player joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad this summer but got injured shortly after joining. On Sunday, Mikel Merino showed his potential.
In the first half of the match, Bukayo Saka scored first for Arsenal. Then, Virgil van Dijk equalized for Liverpool. Mikel Merino scored with a header, marking his first goal for the club, putting Arsenal ahead again before halftime.
However, it was unclear if Merino was offside, so the goal was reviewed by VAR. After a long check, the goal was confirmed as valid, and Arsenal led 2-1 at halftime.
Some Liverpool fans were confused by the decision, but the official Premier League account explained that the referee’s call was checked and confirmed by VAR, as no attackers were in an offside position.
In the second half, Liverpool equalized, but Arsenal’s players showed strong performance, especially Mikel Merino with his first goal for the club.
Mikel Merino: Finding His Place at Arsenal
Mikel Merino had faced some tough times after joining Arsenal. He arrived as the champion of the 2024 European Championship. Last season, he won the most duels in the top five European leagues (326 times). He thought he was one of the tallest players at Real Sociedad, but after transferring to Arsenal for £27.4 million ($35.5 million), he felt like all the players were taller than him. Merino even joked that Arsenal’s team looked like a basketball team.
Since joining Arsenal, Merino has gained new insights into the coach’s training methods and the intensity of the training.
However, Mikel Merino’s header on Sunday showed that he is finding his place at Arsenal.
When is Liverpool and Arsenal Next Match?
- Check Liverpool next match.
- Check Arsenal next match.
