Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta helped Mikel Merino become a “world-class player.” Not for the gunners, but for Spain.
These are the words of Laloja boss Luis de la Fuente, who waxed Arsenal’s midfielder lyrically after a hat-trick in World Cup qualifying against Turkey.
This year’s Merino records in Spain are outstanding. He scored six goals in six matches, registering four goals and one assist against Türkiye and Bulgaria in this international break alone.
“We have great players. He’s another example of a footballer who does a lot of things well. He’s a genius, a world-class player, sometimes not recognized in Spain. He’s one of the best in the world in his position.”
But what is his position? For Spain, the European champion, he is, as recent records show, a midfielder with the freedom to crash a box and score a goal.
Arsenal – a club with no great honor since 2020 – he won’t start. Therefore, his position is where Arteta needs him. For most of last season, it was on the front line, but now there are more central options, so he probably only works in the middle.
The appearance of these centre-forwards helped to take Merino’s game to another level, with Spain enjoying the benefits, and Arsenal now completely unsure of what to do with him.
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Spanish outlet sports even described Merino as “Arteta’s favor to Spain,” suggesting that fans enjoy his form with Arsenal managers.
It appears his “bold and genius as a coach” has created a “murderer” who can score hat-tricks against the decent turkey side.
Using a Merino Uptop in the second half of 2024/25 cannot be denied Arteta’s cleverness. Kai Herberts and Gabriel Jesus’ injuries forced their hands, but it worked.
Merino’s braces from the Leicester City bench confirmed him as a serious option there, and the change in position “hears a decisive leap in his career.”
There is no doubt that his career has changed due to that run-in. However, he was already a regular in Spain, scoring against Germany in the quarterfinals of the European Championship last summer.
The first sign of his national team’s rise came when he played against the Netherlands in the international league, a month after Leicester’s goal. In June he scored again in the semi-finals against France.
Merino didn’t miss a minute of Spanish qualifying doubleheader this month.
Being a regular for a European champion is not a small feat. Spain’s midfield was Merino, Martin Zubimendi and Pedri, with Rodri being the backup for now, and Dani Ormo and Fermin Lopez waiting on their wings. The depth is ridiculous.
Fair play for Merino to make this versatility work. The best international team in the world has benefited from it, but it is unclear what the future holds for him at the club level as Viktor Gyoker leads the Arsenal line.
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