Making of a Cult Hero

How many times have I watched the Declan Rice freekicks till now? I don’t know. I’ve lost count. It’s been on a loop – every reel, every YouTube short, evert tweet – I have seen them all. I have liked them all. It’s been almost 48 hours and just like every Arsenal fan, I am still buzzing. I can still hear the swoosh of the ball, can still visualize the bulging of the net and I am this close to tattooing Declan Rice standing over the sideboard with outstretched arms. It’s embarrassing for a 40-year-old to behave like this but I don’t give a fuck! The Declan Rice specials will be etched in my memory, FOREVER. But so will Mikel Merino’s finish for the third goal.

I had no idea who Mikel Merino was before he leapt over the German defense to score a scorching header in the Euros. Now, he’s my favourite striker. Not my favourite midfielder, but my favourite striker. I didn’t think much of him when Arsenal signed him after the Euros. He came to fill the Granit Xhaka-shaped hole in the Arsenal midfield. Xhaka frustrated us but since he’s left, the left 8 has been a problem. The Gunners have thrown everything at the position to see what sticks. Well, nothing’s much stuck till now. Not even Merino. Now, we are being a little harsh on the Spaniard – it’s not easy to slot into the midfield of an elite Premier League team, that too without a pre-season, followed by an injury on the first week of joining the team! But we don’t care about all that. A couple of not-so-impressive games and poof, off you go into the what-a-waste-of-money bin.

Then Kai Havertz went down clutching his hamstring in Dubai and suddenly the number nine position looked as deserted as the Spurs’ trophy cabinet. As I scrolled X, the internet came up with a list of free agents and in a fit of nostalgia I even yearned for a Lucas Perez return. Oh, there was Carlos Vela too! ‘Sign someone’ – the fanbase groaned. ‘Not today’ – said Mikel Arteta. The Boss scanned through the squad list, picked out at his namesake and handed him an assignment – play centre forward for Arsenal football club.

Merino isn’t a centre forward. But this was his chance to play. He understood the assignment, recognized the opportunity and came up with an unique concoction — a bit of Havertz, a pinch of Robin van Persie and a generous sprinkling of Olivier Giroud (the beard and the stunning looks included) and ran with it. And what a run it has been. He was asked to a job and with six goals in 10 games, he done it better than most.

The Real Madrid game showed his true value. He was everywhere. He fought, he grappled, he tested Thibaut Courtois, harassed Antonio Rudiger and topped it off with an artistic finish with his cultured left foot. A brilliant Rice played Batman on the night with his swirl, curl, thump and thunder, but a steady Merino played his part as Robin to the tee!

Next season, Merino will go back to being a midfield rotation player. Arsenal might add a more skillful, easy-on-the-eye midfield superstar and the Spaniard will go down the pecking order. He will come on in the second halves to shore up the midfield, will be subbed in to win duels in physical battles. Once in a while, he will ghost into the box to head one in at the back post.

Merino is already 28. He will stay at North London for a few more years and hopefully, he won’t be asked to step up as a centre forward again. However his brief tenure as a number nine will be remembered fondly and Merino has successfully replaced Tomas Rosicky as my cult hero. He may not be the centre forward that Arsenal fans deserved, but he’s definitely the centre forward who stood up tall for the Gunners!