MIKEL MERINO
Midfielder · Arsenal · Premier League
“A midfield anchor who reads danger and arrives to finish it.”
GoalPost verdict
↑ model form signal
GoalPost read
A midfield anchor who reads danger and arrives to finish it.
6 GPS components
GoalPost value
What GoalPost values him at
range pending · wider band
What he’s worth on the pitch today — our number, not the market’s. A midfield anchor who reads danger and arrives to finish it.
GPS / value trend
Daily snapshots only. Sparse history stays hidden rather than drawing a flat line.
Value trajectory
Value trajectory appears once GoalPost has a current FMV and dated season ratings.
Dashed line is reconstructed from season ratings, age, role, and today's GoalPost value. Logged-live value points will appear here once history accrues.
Scouting report
GoalPost confidence
74%
Last Updated
Model updated
After latest GoalPost refresh
GoalPost verdict
A midfield anchor who reads danger and arrives to finish it.
Impact
Useful
Form Trend
Tracked
Peak Age
26-28
Potential
Role fit
Overall profile
Attacking DNA
Elite strengths
Current-season output
21Primary GoalPost strength relative to role peers
Role reliability
38Reliable plus trait in current sample
Availability signal
42Repeatable action profile in this role
Tournament context
73Positive contributor in team context
Watch-outs
Direct threat
Movement
Counter attacks
Per-90 breakdown
Detailed per-90 metrics compared to role peers
0.26
1.25
per 90
0.69
21%
38%
1.25
2.4
Key metrics
Goals / 90
0.26
season rate
Shots / 90
1.25
shot volume
Shot accuracy
55%
16/29 on target
Conversion
21%
goals per shot
Dribbles / 90
0.38
success rate proxy
Key passes / 90
1.25
chance creation
Player intelligence
Workrate
Defensive actions & pressing intensity
Ball progression
Progressive carries & passing impact
Team impact
Awaiting impact sample
Playing style
Mikel Merino plays as a box-to-box midfielder with a defender’s timing and a striker’s instinct for the final action. He hunts space aggressively, closes down with purpose, and is always switched on to cut passing lanes before springing forward into the box. His game is built on elite defensive reading, relentless pressing, and a clean, clinical edge when chances fall his way.
View style breakdown →World Cup 2026 outlook
Spain can lean on Merino as a trusted two-way midfielder who raises the tempo without losing control. In Spain's squad for World Cup 2026, his blend of anticipation, pressure, and goal threat gives them a hard-working, decisive presence in the middle.
View projection →GoalPost combines model score, role profile, value, and availability into the current player read. View the full model →
Analysis overview
Mikel Merino plays as a box-to-box midfielder with a defender’s timing and a striker’s instinct for the final action. He hunts space aggressively, closes down with purpose, and is always switched on to cut passing lanes before springing forward into the box. His game is built on elite defensive reading, relentless pressing, and a clean, clinical edge when chances fall his way.
Player impact
awaiting on-pitch impact sample
Style profile
How he plays
Shot profile
Shots / 90
1.25
SoT / 90
0.69
Accuracy
55%
Conversion
21%
Goal Threat coverage is not available for this player yet, so this card shows only raw shooting rates.
Source context
Role read
Midfielder
Primary scouting role derived from position and season profile.
Availability
Managed
Recent injury history is present, so workload context matters.
Coverage
3 recent matches
Recent match-form rows are loaded for performance and trend surfaces.
Player intelligence
Workrate
Defensive actions & pressing intensity
Ball progression
Progressive carries & passing impact
Team impact
Awaiting measured on-pitch impact sample
Ball carrying impact
Drives progress through pace and close control.
Finishing impact
Converts chances at a rate above role expectation.
Creative impact
Creates chances through runs and combinations.
Defensive impact
Presses and recovers possession effectively.
Clutch factor
Delivers in high-pressure and big moments.
Scouting summary
A midfield anchor who reads danger and arrives to finish it.
Performance overview
2024/25 season by competition
| Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Mins | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Emirates Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 6.20 |
 Friendlies Clubs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 6.20 |
 League Cup | 4 | 0 | 0 | 273 | 6.65 |
 FA Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 7 |
 Premier League | 22 | 4 | 3 | 1,035 | 6.86 |
 UEFA Champions League | 7 | 2 | 0 | 518 | 6.96 |
| Total | 36 | 6 | 3 | 2,096 | 6.65 |
Form (last 3 matches)
Each dot is one match rating.
Advanced performance
Goals
0.26
Shots
1.25
per 90
Shots on target
0.44
Conversion %
21%
Dribbles
38%
Key passes
1.25
Pass accuracy
71%
Fouls won
1.72
per 90
Def actions
2.45
pressure work
Match-by-match breakdown
| Date | Opponent | Competition | Result | Mins | Goals | Assists | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27 |  Uruguay | World Cup | W0-1 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 6.1 |
| Jun 21 |  Saudi Arabia | World Cup | W4-0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 6.2 |
| Jun 15 |  Cape Verde Islands | World Cup | D0-0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 6.7 |
Minutes played
Total minutes
Premier League1,035 (49%)UEFA Champions League518 (25%)League Cup273 (13%)Emirates Cup90 (4%)Career timeline
Career stats by season
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | G/A per 90 | Avg rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 |  Spain | Friendlies | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 6.71 |
| 2025/26 |  Arsenal | Premier League | 36 | 6 | 3 | 0.25 | 6.81 |
| 2024/25 | Arsenal | Premier League | 65 | 18 | 5 | 0.35 | 7.21 |
| 2023/24 |  Real Sociedad | La Liga | 52 | 9 | 6 | 0.29 | 7.29 |
| 2022/23 | Real Sociedad | La Liga | 45 | 3 | 9 | 0.27 | 7.08 |
Career highlights
Copa del Rey
2019/2021
DFB Pokal
2016/2017
UEFA European Championship
2024
UEFA Nations League
2022/2024
UEFA U19 Championship
2014/2015
Career timeline detail
Arsenal
2024 – Present
Apps
101
Goals
24
Assists
8
Minutes
5,852
Competition breakdown
| Premier League | 36 app | 6 g | 6.81 |
| Premier League | 65 app | 18 g | 7.21 |
Goal timeline
24 goals in selected spell
Career milestones
International career
Spain
WC trophies
0
Avg rating
6.81
Major tournaments
Tournament context
This player is not currently tied to a World Cup 2026 squad in GoalPost.
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