Mikel Merino eager to prove he can play like Arsenal and Man City legends
Mikel Merino eager to prove he can play like Arsenal and Man City legends
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Mikel Merino is known as Arsenal’s “duel monster” but the busy Spain midfielder says he has the technical smarts of Premier League legends Cesc Fabregas and David Silva in his locker. The 28-year-old arrived from Real Sociedad last summer to add even more physicality to Arsenal ’s engine room.
And he had proved his fifty-fifty prowess by winning more duels (326) than any other player across Europe’s top five leagues last season. He is not the leader of that statistic this season because a fractured shoulder sustained in his first training session meant his Arsenal debut was delayed until the start of October.
THE FA CUP GIANT KILLERS: Get your special edition magazine celebrating some of the game's greatest-ever upsets. But Merino says he is also working to develop his creative side because he shares the same culture as former Gunners star Fabregas and Man City hero Silva.
“I mean, those players are unique players,” Merino said ahead of today’s FA Cup third round tie at home to Manchester United. “Those players are legends of the game. In England, they are also legends. Back in Spain, we are really, really proud of what they did here. Obviously, I'm no one to be compared to those players yet.
“But obviously, the mentality is there. I think it's cultural. I might be big and strong, but that doesn't mean I don't have the other qualities. “Obviously, I'm not a David Silva style of player. But that pass first mentality, pass and move, keep the ball, don't feel the pressure when you have a player on your back - I think those are things that I have in my game.
