For Mikel Merino, the 2025/26 season was difficult. Arsenal may have won the Premier League title but the Spaniard was unable to play a major role in that success.
The Spaniard suffered a stress fracture in his foot in January and while he returned in time for the final few weeks of the season, he has yet to start a single game in 2026.
However, he is now back with a vengeance, lighting up the World Cup, scoring late winners against Portugal and Belgium in back-to-back games.
For those who have become accustomed to watching Merino in recent years, that will come as no surprise.
How Merino became the ultimate big game player
Merino's rise to stardom has been quite the story.
The midfielder was sold by Newcastle for just £10m in 2018, joining Real Sociedad. He enjoyed six years at San Sebastian before signing for Arsenal in a £32m deal.
That money has become a commodity. He first signed as a midfielder. the Spaniard quickly became one of the most dangerous goalscorers in Europe. Whenever you need a magical moment, just call Merino.
He has been a sensation on many occasions, most notably playing up front as a key player during Arsenal's 2024/25 campaign.
With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus injured at the beginning of 2025, Merino became a temporary striker and performed very well. That famous brace against Leicester City kicked it all off, with the 30-year-old scoring six goals in 12 games as the number 9.
In total, he has scored ten goals and provided six assists in 23 games as a striker. An amazing record and one made all the better when you look at his game-changing goal percentage.
Ten of Merino's 11 Premier League goals (91%) can be classified as game-changing strikes. What does that mean? Well, they go down and open the goals in the game, the equalizing goal or the goals that give his team the lead.
|
Arsenal's game-changing goals from Jan 2023 (PL only) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
The player |
Total goals |
Game-changing goals |
|
1. Merino |
11 |
10 |
|
2. Gabriel |
11 |
9 |
|
3. Trossard |
27 |
17 |
|
4. Jesus |
16 |
9 |
|
5. Odegaard |
19 |
10 |
|
6. Rice |
15 |
8 |
If you thought the outgoing Leandro Trossard was stuck then his teammate is on another level entirely. It's just amazing how often he shows up when you need him the most.
That said, how much football will Merino get next season? Arsenal are desperately trying to sign a new midfielder.
Arsenal are trying to sign another big game star
Midfield is a priority for the Gunners this summer and that could spell bad news for Merino who may face competition for increased minutes.
He could be joined by Bournemouth's Alex Scott or Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi. However, right now, the top target is Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes.
Arsenal want this player and they want him. Unfortunately, the Toon are expected to demand £100m for the Brazilian, the same amount they sold Sandro Tonali to Spurs for.
This was stated by TEAMtalk which also noted that Manchester City is looking for this player and has been informed that he wants to leave St James' Park.
However, Arsenal is his preferred destination and if both teams come to the table, he is likely to choose the Premier League champions instead.
Newcastle captain and 29 November, Guimaraes will provide the same kind of experience and leadership/coaching skills as Merino has provided Arsenal in recent years.
It just so happens that the Brazilian player is holding his own. He is the definition of a great gamer, someone who is always against the top sides, someone who enjoys playing in front of the TV cameras.
During their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace back in January, a game decided by two goals after the 70th minute, Bruno opened the scoring and played a crucial hand in the second. Eddie Howe paid tribute to him by saying: “He played the role of captain because that game was always going to be decided by the key moments in the game and he came up with a big one for us, and he has done it many times.
In the same week, Guimaraes scored a stoppage time equalizer in the penalty area in a 4-3 win against Leeds. Last term, he also scored against Liverpool and Tottenham and over the years, he has had a habit of being the man to step up when it matters most.
Fulham, in particular, must be sick in his eyes. In 2024, he scored the winning goal in the 81st minute and in 2025, it was the winner in the 90th minute to separate the two teams with the Brazilian star. The 28-year-old has come up for his country at an important time. He was the man who provided the assist for Gabriel Martinelli's last-gasp winner against Japan in the round of 32.
The reality is that if Arsenal are to give Merino more than a reduced role next season then finding someone equally clutch in the big moments will be key. Guimaraes is that man.
