Current Analogue
The player
Arsenal · CM
tall technical midfielder · physical versatility · aerial threat
Open profile: Mikel MerinoMerino and Rabiot both start in midfield and attack the penalty area late, often as a near-post or aerial target. Merino's late header at Newcastle in September 2025 and Rabiot's left-sided hybrid role under Allegri at Milan in 2025–26 show the same timing. The comparison is about that box arrival, not about overall output.
Rabiot's role under Allegri added flank duties out of possession, whereas Merino's 2025–26 deviation was a spell as a makeshift centre-forward.