Morning all.
A quick Saturday round-up for you, and there’s only one place to start and that’s the world’s hottest striker, Mikel Merino, doing it again for Spain last night. Just as he did against Portugal earlier in the week, he came off the bench to save us all from injury time in a game that wasn’t particularly enthralling.
Spain went ahead in the first half through Fabian Ruiz, but a really nice header from Charlie Kettle drew Belgium level before the break. It was a pretty one -ided game though, Spain dominated possession and had more chances, but nothing particularly clear cut. It was, to be frank, quite a dreary game, and when Belgium took off Leandro Trossard to put on Axel Witsel they stood even less chance of winning.
They weren’t helped by an injury to Thibaut Courtois which saw him replaced by Manchester United’s Senne Lammens. Spain insisted on not bringing on Merino, introducing inferior forwards like Ferran Torres and Nico Williams instead, but there came a point when there was no choice. The clock was ticking, they needed a goal, and when you need a goal, you need Mikel ‘El Goleador‘ Merino. This is a man who sniffs out chances like a pig finds truffles.
He came on in the 86th minute for Dani Olmo, and it immediately paid dividends. Pau Cubarsi tried a shot from outside the box that should have been bread and butter stuff for the Belgian keeper, but he fumbled it, and we all know who was first to the rebound to slam the ball home to make it 2-1. His instincts in the final third really are fantastic. Since that emergency switch when we needed him to play up front, something has been unlocked in his game, and the fact he delivers goals with the consistency he has shows it’s more than just a happy accident or a purple patch.
It will be really interesting to see what his role for us is next season. There’s so much discussion about central midfield with the rumours around Bruno Guimaraes, and if the Brazilian arrives, we’d have him, Declan Rice, Myles Lewis Skelly, Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard, and Martin Zubimendi all vying for spots in the middle of the park. If we sign Morgan Rogers, there’s another option, as I don’t necessarily see him as someone who will only ever play on the left hand side.
We might well be building the deepest squad around, but there would still be players more peripheral than others as it stands. What we do know for certain is that Mikel Arteta is someone for whom versatility is a very valuable asset. So many of the players he signs can play in multiple positions, and if Gabriel Jesus moves on this summer (which I think he probably should), there is a question about centre-forward depth. I don’t really see us going out and buying another starting level striker, so does that leave Mikel Merino as the man to add depth to that position? Right now his super-sub powers are strong, but I think there are games where he could start up front, and if we’re going to spend big elsewhere then that could well be part of his role.
Anyway, Merino sent Spain through because none of their strikers could deliver what he does, and if he ends up scoring the winner in a World Cup final, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. However, they have the not inconsiderable challenge of playing France in the semi-final so that’s a game to whet the appetite next Tuesday. Can William Saliba stop his Arsenal teammate? Yes, I think he can, but El Goleador is smart enough to hang off the shoulder of Dayot Upamecano instead.
Later tonight, there’s Arsenal interest as England face Norway. I read a report that Declan Rice has been ill this week, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t play. I can’t help think of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Dec saying ‘It’s just a flesh wound’ as he shuffles around on his bloody stumps. Will Bukayo Saka start? He said he feels ‘great’ but do England count on him to do it from the off, or save his quality from the bench if needed? That would probably mean starting Noni Madueke who hasn’t been especially effective, so Thomas Tuchel has some thinking to do.
Norway have been excellent throughout the tournament, the focus will obviously be on Erling Haaland up front (especially with England’s centre-forward also in the goals), but I think this has been a really positive World Cup for Martin Odegaard too. So, while I think England are just about favourites on paper, this promises to be a really interesting game, and one I’m looking forward to as a neutral.
Right, I’ll leave it there for now. For our Patreon members, we have a New Player Podcast chatting about the arrival of Illan Meslier on a free transfer, and hopefully it’s the first of quite a few this summer as things start to heat up in the market.
Have a great Saturday folks!
