Mikel Merino man. He’s a bloody international cheat code.
I remember him scoring a headed goal at Euro 2024 against the Germans in the July of that summer. He would go on to sign for us about six weeks later, but by then we sort of half-knew that he was of interest to the club. What we didn’t know, is what a big game player he is.
I’ve already [spoken about it just four days ago](https://www.suburbangooners.com/2026/07/07/mikel-merino-footballs-most-underrated-match-winner/), after he got a late winner for the Spanish against the Portuguese, but last night he was at it again. And I think at this stage, people like me need to sack off statements like ‘underrated’, because he’s a bloody superstar. I bet back home in his native Spain, he’s already a hero after the Euro’s, so now he’s just cemented his greatness in their eyes.
What we need, is a full season of Mikel being fit and contributing, because unfortunately for him, he’s had two significant injuries in both season’s that he’s played for us. Because if he is, I think he’s getting A LOT of game time next season. And given how clutch he comes up when he plays for Spain or us, you wonder whether Mikel Arteta might be thinking that in reality, Merino could dislodge somebody like Gyokeres for the second striker role. I am, of course, suggesting that Kai Havertz is our main striker, but I do think it’s a tough call between Gyokeres and Merino. And I think Merino would edge it.
Think about it; last season, according to TransferMarkt, Merino played 11 times as a centre forward. He scored four goals, got three assists. That’s a ratio of 0.64 g+a per match. Gyokeres, by comparison, got 24 g+a in 54 games, which is a ratio of 0.44. If Merino played 54 games as a central striker, by those maths, we’re talking 35 goals and assists in total. He’s probably a 25 goal and 10 assist striker we’ve got, playing in central midfield.
You could counter-argument that and say “small sample size”, but we have two data points, because last season he also got a stint as a centre forward. He got nine goals and three assists in 12 games. that’s a 0.75 contribution per 90. Over two separate date periods. If you even put those together, you get 10 goals and siz assists in 23 games.
This guy is an output monster.
And when you look at the fact he’s done it for Spain at multiple competitions, and in qualifying too, suddenly you start to realise that this isn’t a hot streak like Joe Willock had when he first went to Newcastle on loan, this just **is** who Mikel Merino is.
Guys, I’m thinking he might even be our best striker next season, although I’m still probably edging towards Kai. But Mikel Merino is massively in the conversation now. We can’t deny that. His goal yesterday was classic strikers instinct. Even before the goal, he makes an intelligent run in between the Belgian centre halves. What’s that phrase that Neytiri says in Avatar?
> I SEE YOU…
Mikel Merino, I SEE YOU…
Now I/we just need to see him fit.
The other good news, is because he has only just come back to fitness for this World Cup, and didn’t play much for the last few months of the season, he should be good to go come the beginning of our season. And given all the question marks about some of our players like Rice, Saka, Saliba, etc, all the good news stories about players like Merino being fit and ready to go, is a warming sight.
Tonight it’ll be England versus Norway, and the good news is that at least one Arsenal player is coming home. That means, come 13th July, you’d hope that player(s) is back with their family and getting a few weeks off. If it’s the England lads, I suspect they might get a bigger break, but hey, it will at least mean one week less at the competition.
Elsewhere there’s still the Bruno G stuff rumbling along, and I had a few chats with some Geordies on social media last night, who are leaning in to the ‘burned bridges’ vibes. I get it, Ornstein drops an Ornbomb and you pretty much take it as read that it’s fact. David doesn’t do spurious. He’s pretty black and white (pardon the pun) with his messaging, so it’s clear Bruno wants The Arsenal. Newcastle are briefing their journos that they are a bit puzzled because there hasn’t been an offer, but I suspect Arsenal will make one soon. The problem might be, that Newcastle ask for a crazy figure. If they go in at £100million as what they want, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Arsenal walk away. This isn’t the same as Rice; Rice was four years younger, a solid eight years at the top ahead of him, plus there was a bit of a bidding war. Like Isak last summer, this doesn’t seem to feel like much of a bidding war. That doesn’t mean to say other clubs won’t have a sniff, but I can’t see too many dropping a ton on Bruno Guimaraes at 28-going-on-29. It just doesn’t feel realistic. Even in this market.
I still also feel like this could be a big bumper payday for Bruno at the end of it though. And by staying at Newcastle. HandOfArsenal put an update out, and the final bullet on the update said that Bruno doesn’t want this being protracted; he wants it sorted before pre season and won’t do an Isak. So that means Newcastle can dig in, insist on an over-the-top price, because they know Bruno will go on pre season, he’ll just carry on, then stay at Newcastle if Arsenal don’t mean Newcastle’s demands.
I have no intel, I have no idea, but I’m just going on gut feel, having seen this sort of situation play out before. Remember Morgan Gibbs-White going to the Scum? If I’m right, I seem to recall there being talk of handing in a transfer request, before suddenly he signs a new deal and does that weird “Mr Marinakis” video after the new contract was announced. That could very well happen here. Obviously I hope it doesn’t because he’s a very talented player, but I just have that feeling, you know?
Anyway, we’ll see what shakes out, because if Bruno is true to what he apparently said about the pre season stuff, this should all be sorted out within the next two weeks.
Right – I’m off to buy some masonry paint. outdoor wall painting awaits me.
have a great Saturday.