Mikel Arteta has opted to start Mikel Merino at striker in Arsenal's Premier League clash with West Ham United on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners are without a natural striker due to injuries to both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz,

White, hailed as ‘sensational’ by Tony Cascarino while speaking on The Game Football Podcast in October, had to play almost every game last season because of injury issues to Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu. That took its toll and he went down earlier this campaign.

Advertisement At a time when manager Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff are searching for new solutions to find goals, could a counter-attacking identity help navigate these final three striker-less months?