The sight of Mikel Merino bursting into celebration after scoring while playing as a striker is a striker Arsenal fans have become accustomed to over the past nine months.
And the midfielder-turned-frontman was at it again on Tuesday, scoring twice in their 3-0 champions win over Slavia Prague.
The 29-year-old has filled in for Viktor Gyokeres, whose muscle injury is “part of” Manager Mikel Arteta as the Swede prepares for further tests.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to worry about Merino’s ability to get out and provide for Gunlinas, whose fourth straight success in the League Phase in all competitions.
“It’s a pleasure to have him,” Arteta admitted. “It’s his mindset, it’s his leadership, it’s the way he’s a person.
“We are missing a lot of attacking players and we have to find different solutions. He came to the Champions League and scored two goals.”
Merino first passed as a makeshift frontman for the gunners in February when he got twice in the flow of Memier Haverstrate and Gabriel Jesus) a month.
It was the first time Merino had taken on that role since he was a child.
He then scored crucial goals in wins against Chelsea, Fulham and Real Madrid and ended the last campaign with nine in all competitions.
Merino has three terms, also netting at Newcastle on 28 September, where Arenal last performed before a run of eight clean sheets equal to 1903.