Mikel Merino's Arsenal situation is becoming impossible to ignore
After the international break, another game went by with Mikel Merino not starting for Arsenal. This was the first game Mikel Arteta had to send a message to Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who said that Merino should seek game time elsewhere if Arsenal cannot promise it to him. Arteta didn't listen to him... At least not for now, anyway.
Arteta has more midfielders than he knows how to deal with. It's a nice problem to have, of course, but he needs to play squad Tetris if he wants to play Merino.
Mikel Arteta can't seem to help Mikel Merino right now
Clearly, Arteta does want to play Merino. The midfielder has come off the bench in each of Arsenal's six Premier League outings this season.
The problem that Arteta has is a depth problem, but a depth problem of the good kind. Over the last few transfer windows, Arsenal have slowly built their midfield into one of the most stacked group of players in Europe.
The likes of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Bruno Guimaraes, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi are all fighting for a spot. That's before we even consider Kai Havertz, Max Dowman and Eberechi Eze, who can also play in the midfield if needed.
Arsenal's LOSC game presents a quick fix for Mikel Merino
Merino has a lifeline this week, though. In a rather quick turnaround from the Leeds game at the weekend, Arsenal turn their attention to facing LOSC in the Champions League tomorrow (Tuesday) evening.
Merino started the last game for Arsenal in the Champions League. He played 65 minutes before being substituted off, and he has since started for the Gunners in the EFL Cup. Therefore, Arteta considers Merino when it comes to squad rotation - we can certainly expect heavy rotation in the Champions League this week.
It is clear as day the talent that Merino possesses. Technically, he is a very underrated player - he has a brilliant first touch, and his movement off the ball allows him to be a threat in the opposition's box.
If Arsenal want to get the most out of Merino, they need to keep playing him. While de la Fuente's comments might have been said in jest, they do serve as a warning to Arsenal. If Merino doesn't get minutes, there is every chance he could seek a move away from the club in the coming windows. That is a reality Arsenal are better avoiding.
