Mikel Arteta is still struggling to estalish who should be his first choice striker despite his Arsenal side taking another significant step towards the Premier League title following a 3-0 win over Sunderland.
The Gunners opened up a nine-point gap ahead of Manchester City’s daunting trip to Anfield courtesy of another routine home win.
Martin Zubimendi set Arsenal on their way, opening the scoring with a precise long range drive, four minutes before half time.
It wasn’t, however, until the second half introduction of Viktory Gyokeres that the long-time leaders established some breathing space with the much criticised summer signing twice getting himself on the scoresheet.
Gabriel Jesus had toiled, largely unsuccessfully, for an hour and Merson pinpointed the constant rotation up front as the one lingering issue he is still to resolve.
He told Sky Sports: ‘He just can’t get it right at the moment Arteta with what to do. If he plays Jesus like he did against Manchester United and he struggled.
‘Then the week after he plays Gyokeres and he struggles then Jesus comes on. This time Jesus plays, he struggles then Gyokeres comes on and scores. It’s a real hard one in terms of what to do at the moment because whoever starts doesn’t really perform, it’s the one who comes on as sub.
‘Both of them are very hardworking, they grind down defenders. When the other one comes on with 20 minutes to go the centre halves are tired and beaten up.’
Arteta’s options are now even more varied given the return to full fitness of Kai Havertz who effectively missed an entire calendar year through various hamstring and knee injuries.
The former Chelsea star has made an instant impression and demonstrated his versatility by operating in a midfield role on Saturday and creating Gyokeres’ first goal.
‘It’s just his calmness on the ball,’ said Merson, in praise of Havertz’s impact on the team.
‘With him in midfield, they don’t have a lot of goalscorers in there so you put him there he gives you those goals. He’s very calm, very relaxed, picks out Gyokeres for his first goal. He’s a good footballer.’
Gyokeres, meanwhile, is now enjoying the most prolific spell of his Arsenal career and, with six goals in his last eight appearance. a measure of confidence is finally evident.
‘Well, obviously, he came on in moments, as well, when the game probably was a little bit more open,’ said Arteta when asked if anything had clicked for his £62million summer signing.
‘Today he had more company, as well, in and around him. It depends on the opponent, it depends on the context.
‘For me, what really makes a difference is the consistency that he’s shown every single day, to practise, to train, to understand better his team-mates, his relationships, to speak up and demand the kind of movement and balls and deliveries that he wants, as well.
‘And then he needs to do what he’s done today, as well, really, really well.’