“We trained the last few weeks with different players there to be fair, and he (Merino) has been one of them, but with other the players as well because it’s how you can finish the game, how you start the game, how you change if the opponent does something different, and every three days we’re going to need different options.
“Starting a game is very different, especially against a team with the ability to play in different ways with very different behaviours within different structures that they can use as well, and that's what we have prepared for.”.
“It’s onto the next one, but Raheem is so experienced and like many other players that we know that what you did yesterday, whether it was really good or not, could be relevant to the next game or to the next action.
But asked if Sterling can still have a big impact this season, Arteta said: “Yes, and he needs to have it because we really need him.
If Sterling is to miss out against West Ham, it will most likely be because Arteta has opted to start Merino upfront.
