Jurrien Timber says what everyone is thinking about Mikel Merino after his hat-trick for Spain

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Mikel Merino is the talk of the town after his hat-trick for Spain in the World Cup Qualifiers.

Turkey were rocked by Spain, as Luis de la Fuente’s side showed up to Konya and won 6-0.

In a team that possesses the likes of Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Nico Williams, it was Arsenal’s central midfielder who spooked Turkey the most. 

Merino scored a hat-trick for Spain, taking his goal tally during the September international break to four in two games. 

• READ MORE: Rodri says Arsenal have a player who ‘could be one of the best’

Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice react to Mikel Merino’s hat-trick for Spain

De La Fuente dubbed Merino ‘world-class’ after his three-goal showing in Turkey, as the 29-year-old left many stunned with his performance. 

There’s no doubt that the Arsenal star will be mobbed with praise from his international teammates, and the same will undoubtedly happen when he returns to Colney.

On Instagram, Merino posted a series of images from the night, with several of his Arsenal teammates reacting to the midfielder’s post following his hat-trick. 

Jurrien Timber said what everyone is thinking, dubbing Merino’s performance as ‘scary’, while Declan Rice commented, ‘incredible’. 

Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba were among thousands to like the post, in what is a time to celebrate the goalscoring maestro Mikel Arteta has unearthed. 

Merino can’t stop scoring for Spain

Even Ballon d’Or frontrunner Yamal can’t compete with Merino when it comes to his scoring record for Spain this year.

Since the start of 2025, Merino has scored six goals for his country, with the Barcelona superstar only scoring half of that figure. 

It’s been quite the turnaround of fate for the Arsenal midfielder, who arrived in North London as a cog in the engine room, only to be transformed into a force to be reckoned with in front of goal.

What’s incredible is that, even while he’s scoring such impressive goals, Merino is still being utilised in midfield by De La Fuente, as we saw against Turkey, as the Spaniard still tended to his duties alongside Martin Zubimendi.

As well as all of their star forwards, Spain now have a goalscoring assassin in midfield, all forming from a gamble Arteta took against Leicester City back in February.