The Spanish national team has been home to some of the best central midfielders to have graced the beautiful game. Xavi Hernández, Andres Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets spring to mind, with their technical excellence and comfortability with the ball at their feet.
By Matt Smith
Mikel Merino is part of the new generation, playing a crucial part in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory. The 28-year-old scored a last-minute winner to help Spain beat Germany in the quarter-finals, and almost two months later, he makes the switch from Real Sociedad to Premier League side Arsenal.
The Gunners have secured the signature of Merino to add another option in the middle of the park for the north London outfit. A fairly obscure transfer in the modern world, with Arsenal forking out a reasonable fee to bring in a player who is approaching their thirties.
Merino has spent the majority of his career playing in Spain, but he did enjoy a short spell in England. Playing for Borussia Dortmund at the time, Merino moved to Newcastle on loan before completing a permanent transfer to the Magpies. The Spanish midfielder failed to set the world alight during his time in the Premier League and joined Real Sociedad, where he has plied his trade ever since.
A heavy emphasis from clubs in Europe has been on signing the next up-and-coming star, but Mikel Arteta and his recruitment team have brought in a player capable of contributing for the here and now.
Merino will offer Arteta experience and technical quality in midfield – a player who can receive the ball on the half turn and play progressively while also being capable of breaking up play.
His physical profile will also likely be another reason why Arteta was so keen to add him to his squad this summer. Merino is a duel-winning machine, particularly in the air, and there’s been a clear pattern with the profile of player that Arsenal have signed in recent years. Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori, and now Merino in the last couple of years.
Merino is comfortable with the ball at his feet, but his physicality and defensive contributions will be the main factor as to why Arsenal have decided to bring him in. In terms of winning duels, making tackles, being dominant aerially and recovering the ball, you’ll struggle to find someone better in Europe, never mind LaLiga last season.
Arsenal were one of the most deadly sides in the Premier League last season from set-pieces, so adding a player of Merino’s calibre is only going to make them more of a force. There’s certainly an argument to suggest that Merino won’t instantly become a starter, but there will be game states where a player of his profile is needed.
When it comes to European competitions, Merino also has plenty of experience, and when Arteta’s side need to win the midfield battles and see out narrow leads, Merino could be the ideal player to bring in.
His introduction in the middle of the park also gives Declan Rice more of a license to get forward. Merino will offer a layer of protection for the defence, allowing Rice to drive with the ball and be a third-man runner into the box. Although Rice has been exceptional for the Gunners in a slightly deeper role, he’s shown throughout his career that when given more freedom in midfield he can also be a goalscoring and creative threat.
Arsenal conceded fewer xG and goals than any other Premier League side last season, so there’s an argument to suggest that adding more defensive solidity might not be necessary for them to go on to win the title. However, Merino also offers a goalscoring threat from midfield, with his height and physicality from corners another weapon in Arsenal’s set-piece armoury.
It will be interesting to see how Arteta aims to utilise Merino with Arsenal. Although excelling defensively, Merino wasn’t strictly a defensive midfielder during his time with La Real. Martin Zubimendi and Merino regularly played in midfield together, with the former often the deeper man.
What we could see is plenty of midfield rotation from Arteta. Merino and Rice are both comfortable playing in the number six or slightly further forward as an eight, so there is an opportunity for the two to rotate during games. This gives each player license to roam while the other covers, making it difficult for the opposition to track runners, making their midfield fluid and unpredictable.
Although it’s been a relatively quiet summer transfer window for the Gunners, the additions of Calafiori and Merino offer Arsenal some versatile options to cover multiple roles across the pitch. The supporters at the Emirates Stadium should be excited to see what’s to come from Arteta’s slightly altered Arsenal side for the 2024/2025 season.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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