Rio Ferdinand believes that Mikel Arteta should have trusted Ethan Nwaneri earlier in the season when Martin Odegaard was sidelined. After another summer of bringing in high-profile recruits, the Gunners felt that this could finally be their season after running Man City close in the previous two campaigns.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says other players will have to step up like super sub Mikel Merino after the makeshift striker secured the Premier League title hopefuls a vital victory at lacklustre Leicester.

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It therefore came as a surprise to the Spaniard when one of Mikel Arteta ’s backroom staff told him he really could be used as a makeshift frontman. Moments before Merino was thrown on for the final 20 minutes at the King Power Stadium,

Pep Guardiola may well have provided the solution to Arsenal's striker crisis and if Mikel Arteta listened, he could yet have a major say in the Premier League title race

It’s easy to say in hindsight but I was saying it at the time.'