Mikel Merino of Spain looks on during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Spain and Czechia at Carlos Tartiere on October 03,...
OVIEDO, SPAIN - OCTOBER 03: Mikel Merino of Spain looks on during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Spain and Czechia at Carlos Tartiere on October 03, 2026 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
Mikel Merino believes the experience of winning major honours can play an important part in helping Arsenal develop the mentality required to win more themselves.
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 #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 believes the experience of winning the World Cup with Spain can help Arsenal develop the confidence and mentality required to win more trophies.
Speaking before Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Slavia Prague, Merino reflected on what international success has given him and why previous experience of winning can matter inside a squad trying to establish the same habits at club level.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to be part of those little ones that have won the World Cup, the Euros and have had success with the national team,” he said.
STUTTGART, GERMANY - JULY 05: Mikel Merino of Spain celebrates scoring his team's second goal by running around the corner flag to recreate a celebration his father, Angel Merino, did in the same stadium 33 years earlier during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between Spain and Germany at Stuttgart Arena on July 05, 2024 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
STUTTGART, GERMANY - JULY 05: Mikel Merino of Spain celebrates scoring his team's second goal by running around the corner flag to recreate a celebration his father, Angel Merino, did in the same stadium 33 years earlier during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between Spain and Germany at Stuttgart Arena on July 05, 2024 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
“Honestly, it lifts your confidence; it’s something that gives you energy to keep working, reflects the hard work that you put in every single day. I’m extremely proud and full of confidence because of that.
“I believe that having won before gives you the experience to win again, and having players around now that have won the Premier League, international players that have won international trophies, that helps a lot to create that winning culture that we want to create at Arsenal, and hopefully that can help in the future.”
OVIEDO, SPAIN - OCTOBER 03: Mikel Merino of Spain scores his team’s third goal during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Spain and Czechia at Carlos Tartiere on October 03, 2026 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
OVIEDO, SPAIN - OCTOBER 03: Mikel Merino of Spain scores his team’s third goal during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Spain and Czechia at Carlos Tartiere on October 03, 2026 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)