We have the best midfield in football, Merino boasts

Mikel Merino told The Sun that Arsenal now boast the best midfield in world football after splashing £75 million on Bruno Guimaraes. The new box‑to‑box midfielder debuted in Arsenal’s 1‑1 draw with Como on Wednesday night, earning immediate praise from fans and teammates.

Midfield expectations ahead of the debut

Merino, a World Cup‑winning Spaniard, said the Gunners’ acquisition of Guimaraes adds another quality player to an already deep pool. He highlighted that the squad already includes Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi and Myles Lewis‑Skelly, creating a roster he believes “has the best midfield in football”.

Guimaraes debut in the 1‑1 draw with Como

The Gunners’ new £75m box‑to‑box midfielder made his first appearance in Arsenal‘s match against Como on Wednesday, and the crowd sang his name at full‑time. Myles Lewis‑Skelly found the net for Arsenal, while Guimaraes impressed with his composure and defensive work‑rate.

Joining Merino, Guimaraes will sit alongside Declan Rice at the base of the midfield, while Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze provide creative options further forward. The presence of Martin Zubimendi adds further balance to the central area.

Merino praised Guimaraes, saying: “He’s proven how good he is over the years at Newcastle and he showed it again tonight. He’s composed with great technical ability and a lot of defensive efforts as well – it’s a very good signing and he’s a top player but we have a lot of those in our team.”

Expanding on his earlier comment, Merino added, “We probably have the best midfield in football, the amount of quality players we have there, and everyone can come on and put in a good shift, it’s great for the team.” The Spaniard’s confidence reflects his status as a World Cup winner.

The Brazilian is expected to partner Rice in the Community Shield against Manchester City on Sunday, offering a first competitive test of Merino’s claim. Arsenal will face Enzo Maresca’s midfield trio of Elliot Anderson, Tijani Reijnders and Phil Foden.

While some fans of PSG, Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona might argue otherwise – citing Vitinha, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz or potential signings like Rodri – Merino insists there is no such thing as a “glorified friendly” when you play for the Gunners.