Mikel Merino Praises Arsenal's Frightening Midfield Depth
Mikel Arteta’s midfield options are starting to look frightening, and Mikel Merino knows it.
Fresh from joining a squad already stacked with technicians and runners, the World Cup winner did not bother playing down the level of competition he has walked into.
“Honestly, it’s unreal. Probably the best midfield in football,” Merino said, laying it out as plainly as that. “The amount of quality that we have there, with every player that can come on the pitch and make a good shift. It’s great.
“That’s good for the team. That’s good for the squad. It raises everyone’s level because if you have a bad day, the one that is close to you is going to do a great job.”
This is exactly the kind of internal pressure Arteta has been building towards: no comfort zones, no guaranteed places, just elite players jostling for minutes.
“Amazing signing” slots straight in
Merino’s praise did not stop with the collective. Asked about Arsenal’s new Brazilian arrival, the midfielder was just as emphatic.
“Amazing signing. He has proved throughout these years how good he is at Newcastle. And he showed it today again,” Merino said.
“A lot of composure, technical ability, a lot of defensive effort as well. So it’s a very good signing. A top player, but we have many of those in this team. So everyone that comes to help the team is welcome.”
The Brazilian wasted no time backing up those words. He pulled on a Gunners shirt for the first time in a pre-season run-out against Italian side Como, barely through the door yet already involved.
Arteta could have been cautious. He chose to listen to the player instead.
Arteta senses an instant connection
“He’s only had three training sessions, but he looked good. He was really pushing to play some minutes today,” Arteta told reporters after the game.
“He wanted to get his debut and the feeling of playing in front of our fans immediately. You sense it immediately. I believe there's a strong connection at play and that is going to make us better.”
Three sessions, one appearance, and already a hint of chemistry. For a manager obsessed with details and dynamics, that sort of eagerness is gold.
Hunger that refuses to fade
Arsenal’s recent success could have softened edges. Merino insists it has done the opposite.
“I think we have an amazing squad. The hunger is still there. Not because we won it last season, we’re going to be happy with it,” he said.
“We want more and more and more and we want every trophy possible. That’s the best quality of this team. Not only the amount of depth that we have, the quality that we have in every position, but that hunger.”
Depth, quality, and a squad that treats one trophy as a starting point rather than a destination. With a midfield Merino calls “probably the best in football” and new signings already demanding minutes, the real question is simple: who is going to be able to live with them over a full season?
