Mikel Merino #6 of Spain celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Spain and Belgium at ...
Mikel Merino #6 of Spain celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Spain and Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium on July 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Mikel Merino provided an assist for Spain and Martin Zubimendi earned a rare start as they eased past Croatia on Tuesday night.
MUNICH, GERMANY: Martin Zubimendi of Spain celebrates scoring his team's first goal the UEFA Nations League 2025 final match between Portugal and Spain at Munich Football Arena on June 08, 2025. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY: Martin Zubimendi of Spain celebrates scoring his team's first goal the UEFA Nations League 2025 final match between Portugal and Spain at Munich Football Arena on June 08, 2025. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Going into Spain’s Nations League match against Croatia on Tuesday, the big news from an Arsenal perspective was that Martin Zubimendi was in the starting lineup.
Zubimendi’s last start for Spain had been in November 2025, and of the team’s following 13 games he’d only made three appearances as a substitute. He was long overdue another opportunity in the lineup.
The appearance largely went very well, with Spain 3-1 up by the time Zubimendi was taken off in the 72nd minute. Fellow Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino then made his mark in the closing stages.
Mikel Merino #6 of Spain celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Mikel Merino #6 of Spain celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
With a couple of minutes left on the clock, Merino played a quick pass out wide to Nico Williams, who took on his man and fired a finish into the net for 4-1.
Though it was a relatively straightforward assist on this occasion, the goal contribution kept Merino’s positive record with the national team going.
Since the start of 2025, Merino has scored 10 and assisted twice from his 22 appearances, notching a goal contribution once every 77 minutes. Most strikers would be proud of those numbers.
Mikel Merino #6 of Spain runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Uruguay and Spain at Guadalajara Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Mikel Merino #6 of Spain runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Uruguay and Spain at Guadalajara Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
With Zubimendi and Merino both featuring in the eventual 4-1 victory, David Raya is the only Arsenal Spaniard involved with the squad over the break not to have been given any minutes so far.
Unai Simon remains Spain’s starting goalkeeper, and there’s not much reason to believe that will change in the second half of the break. The team face Czechia at home and Croatia away in their final two games before club football returns.
David Raya #1 of Spain lifts the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy after the team’s victory following the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
David Raya #1 of Spain lifts the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy after the team’s victory following the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)