Former Arsenal attacker Theo Walcott has explained why manager Mikel Arteta prefers Mikel Merino to Viktor Gyokeres in big games.
Walcott made this known following Arsenal’s 1-1 Premier League London derby tie with Chelsea on Sunday.
Arteta chose to start Merino in Arsenal’s attack over Gyokeres at Stamford Bridge.
Merino’s goal and Trevor Chalobah’s strike ensured both the Gunners and the Blues shared a point each.
“Mikel Merino is more trusted in the big games, he is a player that you know what you are going to get,” Walcott was quoted by TouchlineX as saying.
“I think Gyökeres will be more of an impact player in the big games; he will learn a lot from what Merino does,” he said.
Arsenal’s next Premier League fixture is against Brentford on Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium.
