Merino scored a hat-trickplaceholder image
Merino scored a hat-trick | AFP via Getty Images
Two Arsenal players starred in a very comfortable win for Spain on Sunday evening.
Spain took command of their World Cup qualifying group on Sunday when they thrashed Türkiye 6-0 away from home to make it two wins from two to start their qualifying campaign. Luis de la Fuente’s men are likely the best international team in the world currently, and the European champions will surely go into the World Cup as favourites if they can maintain their current level of performance.
A couple of Arsenal played in the Türkiye game, with Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi playing in midfield, while Unai Simon is the first-choice goalkeeper, which means there is no place for David Raya, as is usually the case.
Merino was superb, scoring a hat-trick, while Pedro also scored twice and Ferran Torres scored off the bench. Goal ES rated the players from La Roja’s comfortable win, and Merino scored no less than a 10/10. The report reasoned: “The discovery of Merino in front of goal continues to marvel and the Arsenal midfielder scored a marvellous hat-trick.”
As for Zubimendi, he landed an 8/10, with the report adding: “With Rodri still off the field, Zubimendi may have been less called upon than his goal-scoring midfield teammates, but he didn’t commit any errors in the game.”
Diario AS also covered the game, and their match report was titled: “A Pedri and Merino Symphony”. One line of the report read: “And without time to digest that drunkenness of good football came the 0-5, the work of that Merino who at this rate will end up becoming a killer in the area, and the 0-6, again with Pedri's right foot as a brush.”
Merino enjoyed a very positive first season at Arsenal, but he is at risk of not being a starter this season due to the signing of Zubimendi and the likelihood of Mikel Arteta playing a double pivot with Martin Odegaard in front. Though, with Kai Havertz now out with injury, Merino could once again provide the cover up top, this time behind Viktor Gyokeres. Either way, the Spaniard will likely see plenty of football.
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