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Mikel Merino: What will he bring to Arsenal?

MONews
MONews
13 Min Read
Mikel Merino: What will he bring to Arsenal?

Following the signing of Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal have finally made a second summer signing in Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino.

But who is the Spaniard, what will he bring to the team and why did he cost (up to) £32m? Phil Costa reports.

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“Why would Arsenal want to sign a 28-year-old who failed at Newcastle six years ago?” was the question posed online when early rumours about Mikel Merino first circulated. The player led the team in interceptions (2.3), possession recoveries (9.5) and passes attempted per 90 (55.7) that season, with only Mohamed Diamé (81.5%) having a better passing accuracy than his 79.8%. Opta Analyst.

In fact, the club and the thousands of Jordi were all keen to keep him, but the contract contained a €12 million release clause, exclusive to Basque clubs, which allowed Real Sociedad to sign the then 22-year-old for free. According to then manager Rafael Benitez, without this clause he would not have joined the Magpies.

The midfielder has been doing his own thing quite professionally in the six years since joining La Real, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. After breaking through and becoming a regular at boyhood club Osasuna, there have been brave (and difficult) moves to Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle in between, and all that experience has helped him become the all-action player he is today.

Merino spoke about the weight of following in his father’s footsteps at Osasuna and how Thomas Tuchel instilled the importance of fundamentals at Dortmund despite struggling for minutes in Germany. More importantly, he said his time at Newcastle taught him “how to take hits” and how to handle “big bodies”. Spanish football is largely about tactics and an appreciation of the ball.

There is only one place to start when analyzing Merino. We have all seen the numbers, we have all seen the graphics. He is a duel. monster. Last season he won 326 duels, more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues. That sounds impressive until you realize that the figure is just a penny. Since making his Real Sociedad debut in August 2018, he has won more duels (1663) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.

The 28-year-old is a very impressive figure, tough to challenge, combative and loves being that close to the midfield. He loves to fight. That aspect of his game was formed in England and most importantly he can maintain his physical level throughout the game. He uses his body intelligently to make contact, draw fouls and beat players when he is shoulder to shoulder.

He is not particularly fast from long range, but he has a nice burst of explosiveness that can surprise people when he gets a loose touch or a press of the trigger. Merino made more tackles in the attacking third than any other La Liga player last season (18). This makes him a significant counter-pressing threat, and an ideal player for a team that focuses on forcing high turnovers. Arsenal attempted more shots after high turnovers than any other Premier League team last season (70).

The Spaniard is also uncannily superior in the air. While Real Sociedad usually prefer to build possession through the lines, they are not afraid to play direct, and Merino is a tactical unicorn in that sense. Only one midfielder (Raul Garcia – 10.7) was involved in more aerial duels per 90 minutes last season than 10.1. Meanwhile, no player won more than 6.1 per 90. This can be very useful for a team that maximises their aerial superiority, to avoid the press and escape set pieces.

He can also be effective from open play. Only four midfielders across Europe scored more headed goals than Merino (3) last season, two of which (against Mallorca and Cadiz) came in very similar fashion. Let’s just say that a late run to the back post will do something.

What about possession? I wrote earlier this month that one of the reasons Calafiori was brought in was to help revamp a disjointed left-wing, and the Spaniard would help in that regard. Being naturally left-footed would help open up more natural angles and passing lanes, whereas the players who filled that role last season (Rice, Emile Smith Rowe, Leandro Trossard) preferred to come inside and narrow the pitch.

There are legitimate concerns about the quality and accuracy of his passing – the Spaniard has a career pass completion rate of 77% – so while this should raise early alarm bells, the context surrounding these figures is important.

He is a versatile distributor, comfortable in all thirds of the pitch, adjusting his selection depending on what the game demands at a given moment. He is often a hub in midfield, drifting into space and bouncing one-touch wall passes between teammates, but he does not waste time with the ball. The midfielder is very touch-efficient, and seems to play within three touches at most, which explains the pace of the game but also the occasional mistake.

His progressive passing numbers (5.91 per 90) are a pleasant surprise when looking at the data, and again, he is always ready to throw a quick break in transition if the runner is aggressively ahead of him. Looking at you, Martinelli. Whether it’s changing play on a faint diagonal, a refined chip down the line or a pass between the full-back and centre-back, Merino welcomes the responsibility of breaking the team apart.

But his preferred pace also lets him down. The Spaniard has been guilty of rushing in the final third and has occasionally suffered from tunnel vision, picking the runner he sees immediately and waiting a second or two to see how the play will unfold. He can also be awkward with his touch on the turn and when he pulls players wide or over-plays passes with his weak foot. He needs to clean up in key moments, but it feels like a matter of patience and consistency of execution rather than a technicality issue.

When Kai Havertz swapped Chelsea blue for Arsenal red last summer, the idea of ​​how the left-eight role might evolve was intriguing. After years of playing behind the ball, it was Granit Xhaka who was asked to push ahead of the ball, exploit the half-spaces, provide more of a goal threat and facilitate both Oleksandr Zinchenko’s comebacks and Gabriel Martinelli’s direct runs.

It didn’t work out for Havertz right away, but the progression was clear. Especially with a more mobile nine, he could arrive late into the box and burst out from behind, providing an aerial outlet and duel-winning ability from deeper areas. Ironically, Merino is more similar to how Xhaka played the role, but with the added perks of what Havertz brings: aerial ability and duel strength.

His arrival will also mean another change in midfield, with Declan Rice set to move into the No. 6 role on a regular basis after spending the last six months as a No. 8. That provides much-needed clarity for Arsenal with Thomas Partey and Jorginho out of contract next summer. Merino has the potential to play alongside Rice in a more traditional pivot, and is comfortable stepping in for him or even sitting back on occasion.

I came to a similar conclusion when I profiled Jorginho and Trossard 18 months ago. Despite Arsenal’s recent success being built around younger and more exciting newcomers, there is still a need for some adults in the room. Both players have come in and have shown value to the team (and the manager) very quickly in terms of consistency and plug-and-play ability. Merino also falls into that category.

The 28-year-old is said to be open to extending his contract with Real Sociedad, but has made it clear that he would be willing to leave if three specific clubs approached him. Arsenal were one of those clubs. This is a huge opportunity for him personally and, like any player, he will need time to adjust to new teammates, instructions and standards. Rice and Ben White have both spoken about the intense learning process when joining Arsenal and managing the wave of information that comes with playing under Arteta.

He won’t capture the imagination like some of the other names linked this summer, but there will be expectations around Merino that he will come in and perform straight away. The midfielder joins at the peak of his career, with experience, ambition and the strength of recent international success. This is a signing for the here and now, with a sense of comfort and familiarity that often gets lost in the potential.

The respective developments of Ethan Warney and Miles Lewis-Skelley should also be taken into account, as they are not ready to contribute now but could be in a couple of years when Merino has done his job.

Personally, the fee (€33m + €5m) is a little It’s a big deal considering his age and the length of his contract, but Real Sociedad are no fools when it comes to negotiations and Arsenal knew they had little time to turn elsewhere as the transfer window was closing in. But it’s simple. If he comes in and gives this team what it needs to push them all the way, those millions won’t be a factor.

There’s nothing wrong with adding one more guy to an already large, functional, and technically advanced squad.

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