Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has lavished praise on Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, declaring him “on the same level as Pedri, Oyarzabal, Rodri” following Merino’s standout performance in Spain’s recent 4–0 win over Bulgaria.
Mikel Merino scored twice and won a late penalty, with de la Fuente describing him as “an exceptionally complete player with great adaptability. There are few players as versatile as him.”
The midfielder also “reads opponents and situations superbly,” the coach added.
The performance earned Merino a perfect 10/10 rating from Arsenal Insider, with the 27-year-old now having scored 15 goals in all competitions for club and country in 2025, second only to Erling Haaland and Memphis Depay in Spain’s qualifier group.
Once criticized as a purely defensive midfield option, Merino’s recent displays show a broader range, goal-scoring, creativity, awareness, factors de la Fuente clearly values as he plots Spain’s path toward major tournaments.