Merino’s special ones
MIKEL GUNNING FOR GLORY
MIKEL MERINO believes Arsenal are ready to come of age in the Champions League this season.
The Gunners midfielder claims they have a “maturity” within the squad which can make them genuine challengers in Europe.
Merino also pointed to the emergence of teenage full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly and the newlook midfield with him – Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard – as major positives.
The Spain international, 28, part of his nation’s Euros winning squad last summer, also says the Champions League could be wide open this year if anyone can match Real Madrid’s “amazingly good” knack of turning it on in the competition.
“We have an amazing squad, you can see it,” said Merino. “The competition is at the highest, the level of every single player is huge.
“That’s good news for the coach, for the club, for the squad because we’re pushing each other and everyone has to raise the level to play.
“The Champions League is a competition where small details and boxes are the things that change the game and you have to be really good at that.
“Real Madrid have been amazingly good at that in the past few years and I think it’s going to keep being like that. So, the Champions League is a whole different thing and we have to be ready for every single game.”
Merino praised youngster Lewis-Skelly – who made his first start in the Champions League – for his performance against Monaco and also enjoyed playing with Rice and Odegaard in midfield.
“He’s an amazing guy. He’s a really good kid, always humble, just trying to learn from the others, asking questions, not being worried of being judged for asking maybe a stupid question or whatever,” said Merino on Lewis-Skelly (above).
“It was a special midfield for the team and I felt really comfortable with those two. They are top-class players.
“I think the three of us complement each other very well. We have different qualities and characteristics, but at the same time, we know how to play with each other.”
Meanwhile, the Gunners could lose Thomas Partey for nothing in the summer with little progress in discussions over a new deal.
Partey, 31, is free to talk to other clubs from January 1.
But in some good news, defender Gabriel could be fit to return against Everton tomorrow.