Mikel Merino has compared Arsenal’s giant stars to a ‘basketball team’ and backs his team to continue utilising their advantage — particularly on set-pieces.
The 28-year-old summer signing from Real Sociedad made his first Gunners start on Saturday in the 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth and is set to continue in the midfield for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates.
He is one of a number of players at the north London club who are over 6ft — Merino stands at 6ft 2in — with physicality an aspect that has come to the fore under Mikel Arteta.