Myles Lewis-Skelly Hails Mikel Merino as Arsenal’s Most Overlooked Star

Myles Lewis-Skelly has named Mikel Merino as Arsenal’s most overlooked player, praising the Spain international’s football intelligence, goal threat and influence on younger members of Mikel Arteta’s squad.

The teenage Arsenal midfielder believes Merino’s value is not fully reflected in the attention he receives outside the dressing room. The 30-year-old has become an important senior presence in north London, offering advice to academy graduates and other young players pushing for regular first-team roles.

“The most underrated? Mikel Merino, 100 per cent,” Lewis-Skelly said. “I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves. Today I was speaking to him about how he scores so many goals, because I want to learn and add that to my game.”

Lewis-Skelly added that Merino’s reading of matches makes him a particularly valuable player to learn from, insisting the midfielder deserves far greater recognition.

Merino underlined his match-winning ability with Spain when he came on at the interval and struck twice late on in a 2-1 win over Croatia in Split. The two-goal contribution extended his strong record as an impact substitute for the national side.

Yet the Arsenal player admitted after that victory that his substitute role has brought frustration, even as he remains committed to helping the team. “I’m very happy to be able to help the team,” he said. “Another game in which it was my turn to score from the bench. I’ll go out there with the best possible attitude, even while frustrated about not being able to play more. But this team is a family and that always shows.”

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente also hailed Merino after the Croatia win, describing it as an honour to manage him and saying he would have carried the midfielder “in his arms” to the World Cup.

What happens next is whether Merino can turn that decisive bench form into more starts for both Arsenal and Spain. His international double has strengthened his case, while Lewis-Skelly’s comments highlight the regard he already commands inside the Arsenal camp.