Arsenal’s 15-game unbeaten Premier League run came to an end as West Ham United thwarted their attempt to reduce the gap to leaders Liverpool at the top of the table.

Merino shone in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at the King Power Stadium, scoring both goals after coming off the bench with just over 20 minutes to go. The dilemma for Mikel Arteta now is whether he starts Merino up front for this weekend’s clash with West Ham, or continues to use him as an impact player from the bench.

Arsenal are struggling to score goals without the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. The Gunners have been forced to deploy a makeshift front three in recent matches, with midfielder Mikel Merino leading the line as a number nine.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should prove Mikel Merino wrong and continue to utilise the 28-year-old as a makeshift striker when the Gunners host West Ham in the Premier League at the weekend. Merino came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of Arsenal’s clash with Leicester on Saturday and proved to be the matchwinner as he scored a quickfire brace.

Arsenal were shut out for the second-straight Premier League game, drawing 0-0 at Nottingham Forest as the Gunners attack continues to condemn their minimal title hopes.

Chris Sutton explains why Mikel Merino cannot be tasked with leading the line for Arsenal regularly - but he doesn't mind if he's wrong.

Mikel Arteta has learned a lot about his team’s mentality and has built a central defensive partnership in Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba that is the envy of Europe.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta refused to rule out using Mikel Merino once again as a centre-forward following the Spaniard’s heroics last weekend against Leicester City. Injuries to several key

Arsenal have been training with different players leading the line and not just midfielder Mikel Merino, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday as the club grapples with an injury crisis that has left them without a recognised striker available.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be faced with another difficult choice this weekend of who to play up front amid their injury crisis, after Mikel Merino scored a brace against Leicester last week as a

Arteta has also claimed that Nathan Butler-Oyedeji can play as a number nine. He has been on the Arsenal bench in their last two games.

Paul Merson expects Mikel Arteta to stick with Raheem Sterling in his starting XI for Arsenal’s ‘must-win’ match against West Ham, despite the forward’s ineffective performance at Leicester.