Arsenal star Mikel Merino promised to ‘fight for every ball with 100% at first interview
In fact, he won 326 more duels last season than any other player in any of the main five European leagues. In his first interview following his acquisition, he expressed excitement about bringing those attributes to his new team.
“That, in my opinion, is a significant component of my game and demonstrates my character,” he remarked. “When I was pretty little, I learned that I want to compete for every ball. It’s possible that you won’t win, though. I will battle for every ball with all of my might, even if I can’t guarantee that I will win every duel.
It’s seldom easy to describe oneself in such terms, but I consider myself to be a decent teammate and a diligent worker. Whether the ball is in play or not, I like to work for the team. I consider the group component of the game constantly. I enjoy playing football since it’s a part of my Spanish culture.
The 28-year-old has played in Spain’s top division with Real Sociedad for the previous six seasons, making approximately 250 games and taking home the Cope del Rey in 2020. He has had brief stints with Borussia Dortmund in the past and spent a season in the Premier League with Newcastle United in the previous campaign. He thinks that his background will serve him well.
Given how difficult this league is for young players, he continued, “I think it will be massive.” “Perhaps you won’t realize it until you give it a shot. However, I am aware of how competitive this league is and how hard each game is right now. It goes without saying that after speaking with current and former colleagues, I am aware of how high the bar is. Each and every game must be won. I usually have an advantage because I am somewhat familiar with the venues, the teams, and the atmosphere you can expect.
A handful of Mikel’s new teammates are also well known to him already. In addition to playing with David Raya for the national team, he has also lined up with Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney during their respective loan seasons with Real Sociedad in 2019–20 and 2023–2024. He claimed to have spoken with our captain already.
Our new No. 23 said, “Yes, we did exchange some messages a few days ago.” “He expressed his immense happiness for me to embark on this new chapter in my life,” Back then, it was incredible to share the pitch with him. I have a lot of happy recollections of our relationship, and maybe this time around we can bond even more.
“We had a really good one-two play that resulted in a goal for us against Osasuna, which I recall. But generally speaking, I believe we had a solid connection during every practice and game. Because of his exceptional movement behind the midfielders, he made my job as one of us who play a comparable position very easy.
In addition, Mikel stated in his first interview that he had possessed an Arsenal shirt as a child 20 years ago, and he concluded by stating his goals while donning the renowned red and white on a real basis.
He declared, “I wouldn’t move to a club that are not aligned with my desires.” “I believe this club shares the same mentality as me—I want to improve, win, and realize my dreams. I greatly appreciate this. I appreciate the effort they put forth on a daily basis.
“After speaking with Mikel [Arteta], I was informed about their methodology, which I find to be rather admirable. I believe it is a wonderful fit, so now that I’m doing the role I love, it’s time to get to work and hopefully everything goes smoothly.
“The fact that they continue to do it greatly motivates me. They aren’t going to give up and they are still hungry, and I want to come here and support them in reaching their objectives. They obviously have a fantastic staff and squad, and from what I can see, they also have fantastic facilities and personnel surrounding them. It’s the ideal combination, in my opinion, and maybe we may accomplish great things this year.