Mikel Merino was quick to give credit to his Arsenal teammates as the midfielder returned to the number nine role.
The Gunners were without Viktor Gyokeres for their Champions League clash against Slavia Prague, while Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus were already sidelined with knee injuries.
In the absence of a recognized forward, Merino stepped up to the plate again and scored twice in a 3-0 victory.
The Gunners face Sunderland in their final game before the international break, and Merino will once again lead the line at the Stadium of Light.
The Spaniard believes that his adapted role in the team is facilitated by the offensive quality of his Gunner teammates.
“Credit to my teammates,” Merino told TNT Sports after winning the Champions League.
“Obviously this is a team sport and I’m just trying to play the number nine role, although I’m not a classic number nine, or I wasn’t born a number nine.
“I am very happy to help the team with goals, but also with my hard work, my running, my following. And with the quality we have in the team, they pass the ball at the right time in the right place and I am always there.
“In terms of tactics, I knew what role number nine was. See even the meeting with Mikel [Arteta] Make it clear what each person’s role is. I learned a lot last season and I think I’m taking advantage of it a lot this season.”
4/4 pic.twitter.com/arqmMihB4C
—Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 5, 2025
Sunderland’s 1-1 draw against Everton on Monday saw them return to the Premier League’s top four.
The Black Cats are seven points behind the Gunners and could move up to second place as Manchester City and Liverpool, the two teams between them and Arsenal, also meet on Matchday 11.
Regis Le Bris criticized his team’s start against Everton, but believes they can overcome any scenario with the help of their fans.
“In the end it’s a good point. We didn’t start well and they were better than us for the first 30-35 minutes,” said Le Bris.
“We will face different scenarios this season. Sometimes you don’t know why, but you can change it. We are still connected with our ideas, and that’s how we got back into this game.
“With our fans, when we can generate positive actions, we feel their intensity. It wasn’t enough for the second goal, but I hope it will be like that next time.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sunderland – Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka made 225 Premier League appearances for Arsenal between 2016 and 2023, 113 of them under current Gunners boss Arteta.
Having scored his first goal for Sunderland last game against Everton, Xhaka will look to score in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since March-April 2023.
Arsenal – Declan Rice
With Gyokeres potentially sidelined again for Arsenal, Declan Rice’s set pieces could prove even more vital.
He has also scored or assisted in three of his last four games (one goal, two assists), setting up Merino’s second goal against Prague.
MATCH PREDICTION – ARSENAL VICTORY
Arsenal have won their last five Premier League games and the last time they won more in a row was between April and August 2024 (eight wins).
Their last four wins have come without conceding a goal – the last time the Gunners won five in a row with clean sheets was in September/October 1987 under George Graham.
They have also scored eight league goals from corners this season, the most ever by a team in their first 10 games of a season. Since 2022-23, the Gunners have scored 51 goals from corners in the competition, 14 more than anyone else (Spurs, 37).
However, all three of Arsenal’s Premier League defeats against Sunderland were away, and all 1-0 (January 1997, August 2000, November 2009).
Sunderland’s 18 points are the most a newly promoted team has won in 10 games in a Premier League season since Hull City in 2008-09 (20).
The Black Cats remain unbeaten at the Stadium of Light this season (L5, W3, D2), and last enjoyed a longest unbeaten run at home in the top flight between August and December 2010 under Steve Bruce (nine).
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Sunderland – 13.8%
Tie – 17.0%
Arsenal – 69.2%
