'I watched him closely': Tim Sherwood says £32m Arsenal player's off-the-ball game was impressive last night

Arsenal are all-but through to the Champions League quarter-finals after running riot away at PSV Eindhoven in their last-16 tie on Tuesday night.

Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino all scored for Arsenal in the opening 45 minutes, though Noa Lang scored a first-half penalty for PSV.

Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard then both struck in the first few minutes of the second half to put the outcome of the game beyond doubt.

The Arsenal captain then added a sixth in the 73rd minute before Riccardo Calafiori made it 7-1 in the 85th minute of the match.

Mikel Arteta opted for Merino at No. 9 from the start, a decision that is usually met with some criticism by some pundits.

Tim Sherwood has now shared what he noticed about Merino’s game after watching the £32million man “closely” in the match at the Philips Stadion.

Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images

Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images

Sherwood noted how Merino’s off-the-ball game was impressive, keeping PSV’s centre-backs occupied and making space for Declan Rice and Odegaard to attack.

“It was incredible how they shifted the ball and it opened up,” Sherwood said on Sky Sports News. “The movement was very good.

“Merino playing as a nine, I watched him closely. If he was not touching the ball, he was occupying the centre-halves and making space for Rice and Odegaard to make late runs.”

Sherwood also praised Ethan Nwaneri, calling him a “little superstar”, and said Arsenal had too much firepower for PSV despite their injury crisis up front.

“Nwaneri, the little superstar, was drifting into different positions,” continued Sherwood.

“They just had too much for them and they really were a class above. Without a recognised centre-forward they had too much firepower.”

Mikel Merino’s stats against PSV

Merino’s main contribution was his goal, though he also assisted Odegaard for his second of the night.

The Spaniard’s goal was a real striker’s finish at the far post after some calamitous PSV defending, slotting through an opposition defender’s legs.

Merino’s physicality was on display as he won seven of his 11 duels on the night and also chipped in with three clearances and two tackles.

Mikel Merino stats v PSV 

Minutes played 77′

Goals 1

Assists 1

Shots on target 1

Touches 42

Accurate passes 20/27 (74%)

Key passes 1

Ground duels (won) 8 (5)

Aerial duels (won) 3 (2)

Clearances 3

Total tackles 2

Arsenal welcome PSV in the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday 12 March, kick-off 8pm.

The Gunners are in Premier League action before then as they head to Manchester United on Sunday 9 March