LONDON -- At a pivotal point in the 2024-25 season, Arsenal needed someone, anyone who could take on the mantle of center forward, maybe weigh in with the odd goal and just give their injury-addled team something of an outlet at the top of the pitch. Injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus meant every senior center forward was sidelined and so Mikel Merino was thrust into a role he had not been signed for. He adapted quite reasonably, delivering the goals in some of the biggest games that allowed him to float around the peripheries of the others.

At a pivotal point in the 2025-26 season, Arsenal needed much the same. It turns out that no matter how much squad depth Mikel Arteta has, he's going to be obfuscating over the fitness of three or four key players, many of whom will be attacke

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