Arsenal midfielders Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi led Spain to a comfortable 4-0 win over Bulgaria in Valladolid on Tuesday night.
Spain are now on the cusp of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup in North America, as they moved nine points above third-placed Georgia in their group.
Merino scored the first two for the European champions, nodding home from an Alejandro Grimaldo cross in the second half, after having headed Luis de la Fuente’s side in front in the first period. Atanas Chernev’s own goal, 13 minutes from time, supplied the third, before Mikel Oyarzabal added a fourth from the penalty spot.
Meanwhile, Zubimendi produced an excellent 63 minutes before being replaced by Bayer Leverkusen’s Aleix Gracia.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was an unused substitute, as De la Fuente stuck with his favoured number one, Unai Simon.
Mikel Merino’s excellent form for Spain continues
Merino has now scored six goals in his last four games for Spain.
The midfielder is developing a knack for popping up in dangerous positions inside the box for his nation, which has endeared him to De la Fuente.
Merino scored a hat-trick against Turkey in the last international break, and these goals earned him starts against Athletic Club and Manchester City for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta was criticised for selecting the 29-year-old in these games, with many feeling it reflected the manager’s conservative approach.
However, as these consistent strikes for his nation and at the back end of last season for Arsenal have shown, Merino offers significant goal threat in the final third, and shouldn’t really be viewed as a pragmatic option.
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