The ex-Newcastle midfielder is returning to the Premier League – and he could make a huge difference for the Gunners
Euro 2024 produced a string of unexpected main characters. Whether that be Ralf Rangnick, who massaged his ailing reputation following that Manchester United farce by getting his Austria side playing some of the best football of the tournament, or Ollie Watkins, the former non-league striker whose dramatic winner booked a drab England a place in their second successive European Championship final.
Eventual winners Spain had an unlikely hero of their own en route to glory in Berlin. With just minutes left in extra-time during their quarter-final clash with Germany, it appeared that the fascinating encounter was destined to be settled on penalties. Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino – introduced as a second-half substitute – had other ideas.
Ghosting into a gap between the German centre-backs, Merino carefully tracked a flat cross from Dani Olmo's velvety right foot. At first, it looked like he'd mistimed his run, but after flailing his legs around like something out of a Jackie Chan movie, the midfielder somehow managed to get himself back on the right side of the ball, aiming a header into the far corner. And Manuel Neuer could only watch on as it calmly settled in the back of the net.
Merino would play a less pivotal role in the final, only coming on for the last few minutes against England, but the fact he was part of that Euros-winning squad at all was noteworthy, considering the meandering path his career has taken. And his stock is only set to rise further this season, as Arsenal have made him Mikel Arteta's third permanent signing of the summer transfer window after agreeing an initial £30 million ($39m) deal to bring him to north London.
Merino's arrival has garnered a mixed reaction, and while his transfer may not initially appear as pulsating as some of the other names Arsenal were linked with at the beginning of the window, he looks like a perfect fit for his new side's midfield rotation.
Getty ImagesWhere it all began
Merino's story begins in Pamplona, Spain. He signed youth forms with local side Osasuna and enjoyed a rapid ascent through the age groups, making his senior debut in a victory over Barcelona B in August 2014, aged 18.
Despite his tender years, he soon emerged as an important first-team player, racking up 29 appearances during his first senior season. After helping Osasuna narrowly avoid relegation, he was afforded even more trust the following year, missing just eight league games as his side qualified for, and then won, the play-offs. However, Merino would not get a taste of La Liga action for his boyhood club, as Borussia Dortmund snapped him up in the summer of 2016.
Despite the German side's reputation as an ideal landing spot for young players, Merino never really settled in his new surroundings. After struggling to break into the first team, he joined Rafa Benitez's Newcastle in July 2017, initially on loan, though the deal would be made permanent after he had made just five appearances. He showed promise for the Magpies, scoring an important late winner against Crystal Palace, but would once again be moved on at the end of that season.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break
It was reported at the time that Merino's departure was taken out of Newcastle's hands due to his low release clause. Real Sociedad were the lucky beneficiaries of this, picking the midfielder up for around €12 million (£10m/$13m). And this return to Spain would prove to be the making of him.
After enjoying a promising opening campaign with La Real, Merino properly exploded during the 2019-20 season, ticking off a string of career milestones. Not only did he wear the captain's armband for the first time, he also lifted his maiden piece of major silverware, starring alongside the likes of Martin Odegaard, David Silva and Alexander Isak as the San Sebastian outfit knocked out Real Madrid en route to lifting the Copa del Rey.
To cap off an outstanding year, Merino was handed his first ever Spain call-up in August 2020 with a maiden cap coming the following month against Germany in the Nations League. There was no doubt he was now one of La Real's key men and being handed a fresh contract until the end of the 2024-25 reflected his importance to the cause.
Getty ImagesHow it's going
It's been more of the same from Merino since then. At international level, he spent some time out of the Spain squad, but since Luis de la Fuente's appointment after the 2022 World Cup, he has not missed out on a single selection, helping La Roja lift the Nations League trophy in June last year.
He's made continued progress for his club, too. After an injury-affected 2020-21 campaign, Merino has only missed a handful of matches for La Real over the past three seasons. In 2022-23, he recorded a career-best nine league assists as his side secured a fourth-place finish, with the midfielder netting twice during the subsequent Champions League run last season.
His career-defining strike at the Euros, then, was simply the icing on the cake for Arsenal. There's little doubt that Arteta and Co will have been tracking his development closely over the past few years, such has been his consistency for club and country.
Getty ImagesBiggest strengths
When considering what makes Merino stand out, there's only one place to start. Last season, no midfielder won more aerial duels across Europe's top five leagues and he's rightly earned a reputation as the king of the flick-on. This makes him a fearsome presence when attacking and defending goal-kicks, while he's a serious threat in both boxes too.
Merino's insatiable appetite for winning the ball is not restricted to aerial challenges either. Last season, he completed 77 tackles, a figured better by just five La Liga midfielders, and only narrowly bested by Declan Rice, who played considerably more minutes than him. What will be particularly enticing for Arteta is how adept Merino is at winning the ball in the opposition's half, a quality they've lacked in midfield since Granit Xhaka's departure. Last term, no La Liga player dispossessed more players in the final third, with Arsenal's midfielders getting nowhere near his numbers in this regard.
It's not all about what he brings out of possession, though. Merino is also capable of finding pockets between the opposition backline and getting onto the end of crosses. His career-defining goal in the Euros demonstrated this nicely, and last season alone he netted three times with his head for La Real.