Troy Deeney has cast doubt on whether Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino is “up to the level” required for the Gunners, despite describing his recent performance against Brentford as “quality.”
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Merino, who joined Arsenal for £32m from Real Sociedad last summer, played a pivotal role in their 3-1 comeback victory over Brentford on New Year’s Day.
The match saw Bryan Mbeumo give the home side an early lead after a swift counter-attack, but Gabriel Jesus equalized with his sixth goal in four matches. Shortly after halftime, Merino put Arsenal ahead before Gabriel Martinelli sealed the win with a third goal.
Deeney included Merino in his BBC Sport Premier League Team of the Week, praising the Spaniard’s adaptability in midfield and suggesting he is likely an “excellent” teammate. However, the former Premier League striker expressed uncertainty about Merino’s long-term suitability for Arsenal.
“He was quality today,” Deeney said of Merino, who has featured in 12 of Arsenal’s 19 league matches this season. “I’m not sure if he’s going to be up to the level of Arsenal, but I’ll give him until next year with a proper pre-season.
He’s neat, tidy, and fluid in his play. He can operate as a six or an eight and keeps the ball moving really well. I bet he’s a great player to have in the squad.”
The win lifted Arsenal back above Nottingham Forest and reduced the gap to league leaders Liverpool to six points.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his team for their resilience. “We won in a difficult stadium against a strong opponent,” he said.
“Their record here is incredible, and going 1-0 down made it even tougher. We had to overcome some challenging moments. Despite injuries and illness forcing us to adapt, we stayed aggressive and fast.”
When asked about chasing Liverpool in the title race, Arteta responded, “We can only control what we do. The rest is out of our hands.”
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown remains optimistic about the Gunners’ chances. “They’re alive and kicking in the title race,” Keown said.
“The team picked up their intensity in the second half and showed their class. Tonight’s win sends a strong signal—they’re still contenders.”
Arsenal now turn their focus to Saturday’s clash with Brighton, while Brentford, winless in five matches, face bottom-placed Southampton.
