Arsenal and Spain midfielder Mikel Merino has been labelled one of the best players on the planet in his position after a headline-making hat-trickfor Spain against Turkey in World Cup 2026 Qualifying.
The former Real Sociedad man had already established a reputation as a goalmouth threat during his time in La Liga, and he proved equally adept in the final third during his debut campaign at the Emirates.
Merino - who struck nine goals for the Gunners last season, where he often featured as an emergency striker - also cannot stop scoring in a Spain shirt, firing in three goals past Turkey in Sunday's memorable 6-0 success for La Roja.
The 29-year-old is now the highest-scoring European midfielder at international level in 2025, and he is just the second engine-room enforcer to net a hat-trick for Spain in the last 15 years.
Since 2010, the only other midfielder to score three times in one game for the reigning European champions was five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid Isco, who did so in a 6-1 thumping of Argentina in 2018.
Luis de la Fuente: 'Merino one of the best in the world in his position'
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente on October 4, 2024
Merino's man-of-the-match performance on Sunday understandably drew incredibly high praise from Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente, who expressed his view that the 29-year-old is one of the world's finest in his role.
"We have fantastic players, and he (Merino) is another example of a footballer who does many things well," De la Fuente told the media, as quoted by the Evening Standard.
"A genius, a world-class player, and who sometimes doesn’t get the recognition in Spain. He’s one of the best in the world in his position. What we have are good people, who are humble and want to continue growing."
Merino also found the back of the net in La Roja's 3-0 success over Bulgaria last Thursday, prior to which he struck against France and the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League semi-finals and quarter-finals.
The one-time Newcastle United man now has eight goals and four assists to show from 37 matches for Spain, who are three points clear of second-placed Georgia at the top of Group E.
Mikel Arteta's Merino dilemma after Spain hat-trick
Spain's Mikel Merino on March 20, 2025
Merino shone for Spain this month despite a slow start to the 2025-26 Premier League campaign with Arsenal, having earned just 77 minutes of action across the Gunners' first three games of the campaign.
The midfielder played a mere seven minutes against Manchester United and was an unused substitute against Leeds United, before starting and completing 70 minutes of the 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield, filling in for Martin Odegaard.
The presence of Merino over either Ethan Nwaneri or Eberechi Eze in the first XI suggested that Mikel Arteta was playing it safe against the champions, as the latter two are seen as more attack-minded than the Spaniard when deployed in the engine room.
In contrast, Merino struggled to make an impact in that position - failing to register a single key pass or shot - and while Arsenal's calibre of opposition should be taken into account, he is not a natural number 10.
However, for as long as Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are out, Merino could very well be Arsenal's second-choice striker after Viktor Gyokeres, and the Spaniard should certainly keep the Swede on his heels for the next couple of months.
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