Mikel Merino
Arsenal centre-forward Mikel Merino has now scored three goals in his past two outings for Spain
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A natural leader, a midfielder, a makeshift striker and a future manager. Arsenal's Mikel Merino really can do it all. You really will struggle to find a more popular member of Mikel Arteta's dressing room and for good reason.
Merino is the ultimate professional, an intelligent standard-setter, a forward-thinker and above all, a fine player. For World Cup winners Spain, he's unique and irreplaceable having seemingly mastered the habit of coming in clutch when his national team needs him most.
In nine World Cup minutes against Portugal (90th minute) and Belgium (88th minute), he netted two winners. Yet his excellent goalscoring form has spilled over into the extended three-week international break. He bagged in the 3-1 win over Czechia before going one better last night against Croatia in Split.
Merino was summoned from the bench at half-time with La Roja trailing 1-0 and their 41-match unbeaten record on the line. So what does he do? Score twice, including a stunning 88th-minute winner to keep Spain top of the pile.
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Boss Luis de la Fuente admits he could not love Merino any more, explaining: “It is an honour and a privilege to coach a footballer of his talent. I think that when we were heading to the World Cup, I even said that if he was injured, I would carry him in my arms, and I don't think I was exaggerating. He does not get the recognition his talent deserves. In other countries, he would be valued much more.”
De La Fuente is right - to an extent - because Merino is valued in England, not least at Arsenal.
During the 2024-25 campaign, when Arsenal's Premier League title charge looked as though it was running out of steam, Merino came up trumps with a brace off the bench at Leicester (2-0).
In doing so, he displayed the qualities of a true marksman and penalty-box fox. He would then lead the line against Real Madrid and PSG in the Champions League knockout stages, earning the trust of Arteta as a centre-forward.
He's done several spells in that role since but hasn't actually played as a No.9 since the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last December.
Mikel Merino celebrates against Croatia
Mikel Merino saved Spain in Split as he scored twice to down Croatia in the Nations League
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The reason was not personal; rather, Arsenal's depth in that position was strong. Last term, the club had Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus and Merino at their disposal.
Merino's minutes since then have come in his natural position, central midfield. But a hamstring injury to Havertz and Jesus' departure means he's suddenly moved back up the pecking order in attack.
Furthermore, if Havertz is set for a couple of weeks on the sidelines, Gyokeres cannot play every game across all competitions and the workload will need to be shared.
Nobody would have envisaged Merino being an active, live option as a striker again this season but that is just the way things have shifted and Arteta will undoubtedly trust him to do an excellent job.
In fact, he may even be tempted to hand him minutes as the centre-forward this weekend against Leeds, though Gyokeres - on the back of scoring four goals in four games for Sweden - looks on course to start in place of Havertz.
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