Jamie Carragher has been made to eat his own words by praising Arsenal star Mikel Merino despite aiming criticism at the makeshift forward earlier this season.
The Liverpool legend previously criticized the Spaniard’s £30million signing from Real Sociedad as a ‘mistake’.
But he was full of the praise for the 28-year-old before another assured display during Arsenal’s 4-0 thrashing of Ipswich on Sunday.
Merino, who is a natural midfielder, has taken on a makeshift striker role this season with Mikel Arteta’s forward line hampered by injuries.
With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli fit, Merino dropped back into his traditional midfield role at Portman Road and provided an assist for the visitor’s second goal.
Merino impressed in Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 campaign but Carragher was unconvinced with his move at first.
Jamie Carragher has branded Mikel Merino as a ‘revelation’ as the midfielder continues to star
Merino claimed an assist in another assured display in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Ipswich
‘I just look at Merino, he’s been a revelation since he took on that striker role,’ Carragher said
‘Prioritising signing midfielder Mikel Merino ahead of another attacker last summer looks like a mistake. Merino is not a game-changer,’ he said.
But ahead of Arsenal’s win, which left them six points above third placed Nottingham Forest, Carragher revealed he has been blown away by the player he previously claimed should never have been signed.
‘I just look at Merino, he’s been a revelation since he took on that striker role,’ he said on Sky Sports Super Sunday.
‘I know he’s deeper today, but in the last 13 games he has six goals and four assists.’
The former Newcastle man has bagged six goals and claimed two assists in 25 Premier League appearances this season.
He has also notched a further two in the Champions League, including the third in Arsenal’s scintillating 3-0 win over holders Real Madrid.
The Spaniard has played as an emergency striker this season as Arsenal’s injuries stacked up and he admitted his new responsibility was ‘kind of crazy’.
Merino scored a brace against Leicester in February and followed it up with consecutive goals against London rivals Chelsea and Fulham.
He also scored the final goal in Arsenal’s scintillating 3-0 win over Real Madrid at The Emirates
Although Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus remain sidelined, he is expected to return to his regular position with Saka and Martinelli now available.
A brace from Leandro Trossard brace and goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri saw Arsenal all but relegate Ipswich on Sunday.
‘Our first 35 minutes were exceptional, we scored two and could have scored more but the sending off changed the game,’ Arteta said.
‘It was an opportunity to play some players who have not played so much so a lot of positives from this afternoon.’
The Gunners’s win saw them delay Liverpool’s title victory for a few more days at least.
Arteta added: ‘All we can do is delay that moment and from our side earn the right to finish as high as possible.’
They face Crystal Palace tomorrow night before a crucial Champions League semi-final tie with PSG next week.
