David Raya raves about Arsenal and Spain team-mate Mikel Merino | OneFootball

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has been singing the praises of his Gunners teammate Mikel Merino.

Merino has been a star for Arsenal in recent weeks, as the Spain international has scored some crucial goals.

Despite being a midfielder by trade, the £27.4 million (Sky Sports) Spain international has been playing as a striker in the absence of the injured Kai Havertz.

Merino has taken to his new role quickly and has scored five goals and given one assist in 12 starts and nine substitute appearances in the Premier League.

The 28-year-old Spain international has also scored one goal and made one assist in five starts and three substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League in the 2024-25 campaign, and his teammate Raya has been hugely impressed.

Raya told Marca about Merino: “It was against Leicester, when he came on as a striker for the last 20 minutes and scored two goals

“He’s a very intelligent player; he knows how to read when he needs to come in and catch the center backs, he’s strong, he’s very good up front…

“He’s a great player. We already know it’s not his position, that his position is playing as a false 8, that he feels much more comfortable there; but for the good of the team, he’s playing as a striker, and that’s how the manager wants it.

“And he’s helping out with goals and trying to help the team as much as possible.”

View: Mikel Arteta should be praised for Mikel Merino heroics

While Merino has to be given a lot of credit for adapting from playing in the middle of the park to becoming the key goalscorer for Arsenal, manager Mikel Arteta should also be praised.

It is a testament to Arteta’s keen eye as a coach that he realised that Merino could play as a striker.

Not many managers or coaches would be able to mould a central midfielder into a forward.

Arsenal may not win the Premier League title this season, but Arteta’s genius in making players better cannot be overlooked.

The Gunners are second in the Premier League table at the moment with 58 points from 29 matches.

The North London outfit are 12 points behind leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal will face Spanish and European powerhouse Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League this season.

It will be interesting to see if Arsenal boss Arteta plays Merino as a centre-forward against Madrid over two legs.