Remembering when Mikel Merino played against Arsenal at the Emirates, Mesut Ozil destroyed him

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Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, who will return to the Premier League after six years away.

Merino spent one year at Newcastle before moving to Real Sociedad, which is much closer to his hometown of Pamplona.

The Spaniard did impress at times at Newcastle, but it was in La Liga that he evolved into the player he is today, as a Euro winner coveted by Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal have beaten Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to his signature, and Merino will now return to play in England, and this time in North London.

During his one season at Newcastle, he played against Arsenal once, in a game which came at his new home, the Emirates Stadium. However, he will now hope to be on the winning side the next time he plays there.

Mikel Merino’s previous appearance at the Emirates Stadium: Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle

In December 2017, Arsenal were struggling in Arsene Wenger’s final season in charge, and could not pick up points away from home.

However, they were flying at the Emirates, and Newcastle headed into the clash having lost eight of their nine Premier League games.

Merino started the game alongside former Arsenal Academy product Isaac Hayden, and remarkably, two fellow Euro 2024 winners were in his team, as Rafa Benitez fielded a strike partnership of Joselu and Ayoze Perez.

Arsenal meanwhile, lined up with a team where no players remain at the club to this day. Petr Cech was in goal, with a makeshift back-four of Hector Bellerin, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Granit Xhaka and Jack Wilshere formed a pivot in midfield, behind a dangerous front four of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazette.

Mesut Ozil dominated Mikel Merino in Arsenal victory over Newcastle in 2017

Newcastle fell to a 1-0 defeat, with Ozil scoring a stunning volley as the only goal of the game, and Wenger’s side were dominant.

All of Ozil’s touches came in the opposition half, as neither Hayden nor Merino could get near him.

Arsenal registered 23 shots to Newcastle’s 10, and Newcastle could only muster two on target in a lacklustre display.

Merino is now supreme physically, as the highest duel-winner in Europe last season, but the last time he played at the Emirates, the sheer genius of Ozil meant he was constantly one step behind, and the German was allowed to create an astonishing eight chances.

Merino has certainly improved since then, and he will hope that his next appearance at the Emirates, this time in home colours, fares a lot better.