Arteta hails match-winner Merino

Mikel Merino has started each of our last six matches up front, having been thrust into the position following injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, as well as several other attacking options.

And the Spain international has adjusted to his new position superbly, his header against Chelsea to earn all three points was his fifth goal of the season.

After the game Mikel Arteta praised the way the 28 year old has shifted from midfield to attack in the last few weeks.

“Yes, because it’s very demanding for him. Even physically, we're asking him to do something he's never done before but he's approaching it every day.

“His willingness to learn and give his maximum to the team with the qualities that he has to play as a nine. That’s what we'll be looking for from others if we had the chance to do, but it’s really helping.”

The boss didn’t rule out using Merino as a forward in future as well, even when the injured players return.

 “You always learn from challenges, you open doors and explore situations that probably in a different context you wouldn't be able to do it. So, that's a really good thing to learn.”

The boss added that Merino’s performance was just one of several positives from a dominant display against Chelsea.

“I really loved the attitude of the team from the beginning,” he said. “It was so aggressive, so dominant with and without the ball. We scored the goal, had a lot of chances that we didn't put into the back of the net, unfortunately.

“Defensively we conceded almost nothing. It was very, very impressive. And attacking-wise, we could have generated much more because we had some open situations just to kill them. We didn't finish the action.

“The way we went to the duels, the intensity that we showed, the level of communication on the side, we really generated a really good atmosphere in the stadium. And, yeah, we deserved to win the game.

“We had to run in transition and running back in transition  the team was incredible the way they tracked back. So overall, so competitive, really good periods but probably should have been more.”