Mikel Merino was the hero for Spain in the last 16 of the World Cup.
The Arsenal midfielder missed much of last season through injury but has returned looking sharp in North America.
He came off the bench against Portugal with Spain level at 0-0 and scored a stoppage-time winner, coolly slotting into the bottom corner after latching onto a fine through ball to send his side into the quarter-finals and Cristiano Ronaldo home.
It was another clutch moment from a player who seems to specialise in them. He has done it for Arsenal time and again, particularly during his run as an auxiliary centre-forward, and now he is doing it for Spain at a World Cup.
How big can a fit Mikel Merino be for Arsenal next season after his heroics for Spain?
He is the second Arsenal player to deliver such a moment at this tournament, following Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time winner against Japan, though Brazil have since been eliminated by Martin Odegaard’s Norway.
Spain now face Leandro Trossard’s Belgium in the quarter-finals, after they beat USA 4-1.
Mikel Merino rates Arsenal transfer target above Erling Haaland
In a winner-stays-on TikTok with El Chiringuito TV, Mikel Merino was asked to choose between Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland. He went with Alvarez.
It is a bold call, particularly given Haaland’s form at this tournament. The Norwegian has scored seven goals — joint top scorer alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe — including a brace that knocked Brazil out in the round of 16.
He now faces England in the quarter-finals, where Odegaard could line up against four of his Arsenal teammates.
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Alvarez, however, has had a disappointing tournament on an individual level. No goal contributions in four appearances for Argentina, who edged past Cape Verde 3-2 in the round of 32 and face Egypt on Tuesday.
But Merino clearly sees something special in him, and might be hoping they are lining up together at the Emirates next season.
Arsenal should move for Julian Alvarez now
Alvarez reportedly wants to leave Atletico Madrid and is open to an Arsenal move should his preferred destination of Barcelona not materialise.
Merino’s Spain teammate Lamine Yamal has been vocal about hoping Barcelona sign Alvarez, but Atletico are reluctant to sell to their domestic rivals.
Atletico have even proposed a swap deal to Arsenal involving cash plus Viktor Gyokeres.
Any move to Barcelona looks set to drag out across the summer, and Arsenal should use that time wisely.
As Premier League champions who reached a Champions League final, with the pull of London and Mikel Arteta’s project, they have every reason to get in Alvarez’s ear now, before Barcelona eventually tie things up.
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