Mikel Merino has Revealed the two Reasons Mikel Arteta gave him that Convinced Him to Join Arsenal
Merino shares how Arteta's vision for Arsenal's growth and his personal development inspired his move from Real Sociedad to the Emirates.
Mikel Merino, Arsenal’s big signing from the summer, has explained why he decided to leave Real Sociedad and move to North London. The Gunners spent €37.5million (£31.3million) to bring the Spanish midfielder to the Emirates Stadium, where he is now competing for a spot in a strong midfield lineup.
Merino missed the first two months of the season because of a shoulder injury, but he has quickly become a key player for Arsenal. So far, the 28-year-old has played nine games, fitting in well alongside stars like Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Jorginho, and young talent Ethan Nwaneri.
Arsenal had been linked with Merino for weeks before completing the deal. Now, he has shared the reasons that made him choose Arsenal and what convinced him to take the leap to the Premier League.
In an interview with El País, Merino revealed that Arteta’s vision for the team played a huge role in his decision.
“I was drawn to the idea of joining a team that is still growing, a team that hasn’t won yet but wants to win,” Merino said. “I wanted to be part of creating a winning culture, just like I helped build at Real Sociedad.”
He saw Arsenal as a club on the rise and wanted to play a part in their journey toward success.
The second reason was Arteta’s promise to help him improve as a player. Merino explained: “They told me they could help me grow as a player, to fix my weaknesses and become the kind of player who can achieve more on an individual level.”
This focus on personal development was enough to convince Merino that Arsenal was the right move for him.
This isn’t Merino’s first time playing in England. He previously played for Newcastle United but returned to Spain after one season. Now back in the Premier League, he’s determined to make a bigger impact at Arsenal.
Merino is currently with the Spanish national team for their Nations League fixtures. After that, he will return to Arsenal’s training ground to prepare for their next Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.
Merino’s decision to join Arsenal shows how much faith he has in Mikel Arteta’s vision and his belief in what the team can achieve.
