Mikel Merino has revealed that winning the Premier League carries even greater importance inside the Arsenal dressing room than lifting the Champions League trophy after the Gunners ended their 22-year wait for a league title this week.
Arsenal were officially crowned champions on Tuesday night after Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth, completing a remarkable domestic campaign under Mikel Arteta.
The title triumph secured Arsenal’s first league crown since the famous Invincibles season of 2003-04 and sparked huge celebrations across north London.
Despite Arsenal now preparing for a Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30, Merino admitted the Premier League has been viewed internally as the club’s ultimate target this season.
The Spain international explained that conversations with teammates completely changed his own perspective after arriving from Spain, where the Champions League is often considered the pinnacle of club football.
“It’s something I asked the dressing room,” Merino explained during an interview with SER.
“The players themselves told me that the Premier League was more important than the Champions League.”
“Coming from Spain, I was used to thinking the Champions League was the most important.”
“But seeing how difficult the Premier League is, it’s harder for me to choose one or the other.”
Merino believes the emotional significance of finally reclaiming the title after more than two decades without domestic success made this achievement particularly special for Arsenal supporters.
The midfielder suggested many fans would even place the Premier League triumph above potentially winning Europe’s biggest trophy for the first time.
“It’s a league victory and it’s very sweet because of the way and the context after 22 years without winning it,” Merino said.
“I think they’d rather have won this league title than the Champions League against PSG, even though it would be their first European Cup.”
However, the Arsenal midfielder admitted he has no intention of settling for just one trophy this season.
“Which one would I choose?” Merino added.
“We’ve already won the Premier League, so the answer is a bit biased.”
“I’m going to be greedy and say I want both.”
Merino also handed Arsenal a significant boost ahead of the final after recently returning to training following his lengthy spell out with a foot injury.
The midfielder has not played since January but has now resumed work with the first-team squad.
“Being back with the team is fantastic news,” Merino said.
“You don’t realise what you have until you lose it.”
“Just a few drills with the team already feel like heaven.”