Arsenal's young midfielder, Miles Lewis-Skelli, has highlighted Mikel Merino as the most underrated player in the Gunners' squad. His remarks come amid glowing reviews from Spain's national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, who praised the midfielder's abilities.
Merino joined Arsenal in the summer of 2024 for a fee of around £27 million. In his 85 appearances for the North London club, the Spanish international has netted 16 goals and provided 8 assists. Despite his consistent contributions, he hasn’t cemented his place as a starter, with his playing time sharply reduced this season. So far, he has logged just 81 minutes across five substitute appearances in the Premier League.
Nonetheless, Merino remains a key figure in the squad rotation for both club and country. In a recent Nations League match against Croatia, he came off the bench to score a brace, securing a 2-1 victory for Spain.
Spain's head coach, Luis de la Fuente, holds Merino in high regard:
Mikel Merino is one of the best in the world in his position. He has the class to play for absolutely any team and is undoubtedly capable of starting in any match. He has a keen sense for the key moments in the game and possesses a rare gift for scoring vital goals. We greatly appreciate the dedication he consistently shows.
Merino himself has expressed frustration over his lack of playing time but continues to approach his duties professionally:
I'm really happy to help the team; it's another match where I've been able to score off the bench. I go onto the pitch with the right mindset, even though I’m frustrated about not playing more often. But this team is like a real family, and that’s always apparent.
In turn, Lewis-Skelli underscored that the vast experience of the 30-year-old Spaniard serves as an excellent guide for him:
The most underrated? Mikel, Mikel Merino. Absolutely. I feel that he doesn’t get the recognition he truly deserves. Even today, I was asking him how he manages to score so many goals because I want to incorporate that into my game. The way he sees football is a brilliant lesson for me. He deserves all the credit.
