Mikel Merino hits back at 'conservative' Arsenal claims at Liverpool amid Anfield scrutiny

Mikel Merino claims Arsenal wanted to dominate at Liverpool after criticisms (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Arsenal faced criticism following their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. Mikel Arteta was accused of setting up his team too conservatively but argued that, with the absences of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, he lacked the personnel.

In Odegaard’s place was Mikel Merino, who started alongside Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi . He had a decent game and delivered on the job he was tasked with.

However, the Spaniard simply lacks the offensive and creative abilities of some of his teammates and when the Gunners threatened, there was a sense of absence from that Odegaard-style player who could perhaps tip the balance.

“I think the mentality is always to go forward, to be attacking, to be aggressive, to try to dominate the game and create chances, but sometimes the game of football is like this,” he said. “Sometimes the ball puts you in a certain situation, you have to adapt to it, and against teams like that, teams like Liverpool, they are a big threat running, and we knew that, so we wanted to attack, we wanted to create chances, but at the same time, they wanted to be low, wait for us to make a mistake and run forward.

“It's tricky to try to attack and not make mistakes at the same time, and create chances, but every game is different, and we have to adapt to it.”

Merino was in the side, as mentioned, courtesy of an injury suffered by Odegaard. The skipper was only fit enough for the bench while William Saliba was taken off after just a couple of minutes.

“I guess it's just part of football, and as a player that has been around it for a long time, I know that this can happen, so the mentality is always to be ready. Not only me, but the whole squad.

“We have a deep squad now, we have a very quality-oriented squad, and what we have to do is just be patient, be focused on every single game. It's unfortunate that injuries are part of the game, but it's the reality, and we have to be ready to step in.”