Spain manager Luis de la Fuente gave a huge billing to Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino as the La Roja boss claimed that the Gunners star is as good as Rodri and Pedri. On Tuesday, Merino scored twice as Spain thrashed Bulgaria 4-0 in a World Cup qualifying game at home. The win also helped the reigning European champions maintain their 100 per cent record in the qualifying rounds.
Merino enjoying purple patch with Spain
After featuring in six out of Arsenal's seven Premier League matches in the 2025-26 campaign and scoring one goal, Merino is enjoying the form of his life for the national team. On Tuesday, the Spaniard found the back of the net twice to help Spain register a thumping 4-0 win over Bulgaria and maintain their perfect record in their 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. Spain can now secure a berth in the World Cup next summer by winning their next game in November, provided Turkey drop points.
Merino now has six goals to his name in the last four matches he has played for Spain, and only Manchester City goal-machine Erling Haaland and former Manchester United star Memphis Depay have more goals than the Spaniard in the qualifying rounds in the UEFA region.
AdvertisementAFPMerino at Pedri and Rodri's level
Following a sensational performance against Bulgaria, Merino received praise from Spain head coach De La Fuente, who spoke particularly about the Arsenal midfield star's versatility on the pitch.
Speaking to reporters, the 64-year-old coach said: "He is an exceptionally complete player with great adaptability. There are few players as versatile as him, and it is a privilege to have him with us. He reads opponents and situations superbly. He is a fantastic footballer, on the same level as Pedri, Oyarzabal, Rodri… we have an outstanding squad."
De La Fuente added: "It’s not a coincidence, but you need a little bit of luck to score. I’ve been wanting to improve this aspect of my game for years and also be more decisive with assists. I hope I can keep this streak going. All teams are well prepared physically and technically. When you build up a group of players in a low block, it’s always difficult, but the credit lies in the number of chances we created and in controlling the game from start to finish. We have little time left, and the team knows that until everything is finalised, nothing is certain. Now it’s time to focus on the club and keep this momentum going."
Merino showed his versatility for Arsenal last season
The Gunners lost their first-team forwards, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, to injuries in the second half of last season, which prompted Mikel Arteta to turn Merino into Arsenal's makeshift No.9. The Spaniard performed his duties with distinction despite being in an unconventional role as the Gunners finished second behind Liverpool in the Premier League.
Merino later told that he initially laughed when the idea was proposed to him. The 29-year-old said: "We’re on a training camp in Dubai and Kai Havertz unfortunately gets injured. There’s a plague of injuries and we don’t have any attackers. On social media, even from friends, I was seeing messages about me playing up front and just laughed. I’m thinking ‘the things people come up with’, ‘the stuff they invent’. But during the morning stroll before the Leicester game, one of the analysts mentions playing as a forward, a false nine: drop to receive, ‘fix’ the centre‑backs. He asks how I feel about it, was I OK with it? And I said: ‘Whatever you need.’ I think they did it deliberately, not telling me until the last minute because they know I like to have everything under control, have lots of information, and by not telling me earlier they removed the ‘stress’."
AFPDe La Fuente's side equal record set by World Cup-winning squad
With the win over Bulgaria, the current Spain squad equalled their own record of 29 unbeaten games in competitive matches. The milestone was previously set by Vicente del Bosque’s legendary World Cup-winning team. In November, the European champions are scheduled to take on Georgia and Turkey.
