All posts tagged: Mikel Merino

World Cup 2026: Why substitutes keep deciding matches in the final 20 minutes | Football News

World Cup 2026: Why substitutes keep deciding matches in the final 20 minutes | Football News

Published by Webster

Mikel Merino had been on the pitch for a mere one minute and fifty-seven seconds when he scored the goal that sent Spain into the World Cup semi-final. Belgium’s backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens, in only because Thibaut Courtois had gone off injured, spilt a Pau Cubarsi shot into his path in the 88th minute. One substitute punished another substitute’s mistake, in a match Belgium had also started without their injured captain. It was Merino’s second goal as a substitute at this World Cup, with his first coming six days earlier, in the 91st minute, six minutes after coming on, and it ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup. Matches at this tournament have been settled less by ninety minutes of football than by whoever is still standing in the final twenty. Sometimes that’s a substitute; sometimes just a starter who has run less than the man marking him. ALSO READ | Despite just one goal in the tournament, Lamine Yamal remains special Late drama The pattern keeps showing up across too many teams and now too many …

Spain vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup 2026: Mikel Merino stars again as ESP reach semis with 2-1 win – Action in Images

Spain vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup 2026: Mikel Merino stars again as ESP reach semis with 2-1 win – Action in Images

Published by Parlour News

Published on Jul 11, 2026 03:30 am IST Mikel Merino once again proved to be a super-sub, coming off the bench to score a dramatic late winner as Spain booked their place in the World Cup semifinals. …read more 1 / 7 View Photos in a new improved layout Published on Jul 11, 2026 03:30 am IST Spain’s super-sub Mikel Merino came up with another decisive contribution, scoring a late winner as La Roja defeated Belgium 2-1 to reach the FIFA World Cup semifinals.(AP Photo) 2 / 7 View Photos in a new improved layout Published on Jul 11, 2026 03:30 am IST It was the second straight knockout game in which Mikel Merino came off the bench to score the winning goal for Spain.(AP Photo) 3 / 7 View Photos in a new improved layout Published on Jul 11, 2026 03:30 am IST Spain edged Belgium 2-1 to book their place in the FIFA World Cup semifinals, where they will take on France.(AFP) 4 / 7 View Photos in a new improved layout Published …

Arsenal’s Mikel Merino warns team against Real Madrid history

Arsenal’s Mikel Merino warns team against Real Madrid history

Published by Webster

Ahead of a crucial second leg against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, Arsenal’s goalscorer from the first game, Mikel Merino has sounded out a warning to his team about the tie, even though they lead 3-0 on aggregate. Real Madrid will be closing the roof of the capacity crowd at the Bernabeu in a bid to amplify the atmosphere. While most clubs would look at a 3-0 lead as unassailable, Merino said that Arsenal know what’s at stake and what their opponents are capable off. “I haven’t talked about that issue with my teammates. They know what has happened in the past. On a personal level, I’ve had good and bad experiences at the Bernabeu. I, as one of the veterans of the team, will try to contribute what I can on an emotional level, but they are all quite calm and confident that it will be a tough game,” said Merino to Spanish media house COPE. Story continues below this ad Merino scored the third goal for the Gunners against Madrid. The first two …

Soccer-Arteta hails stand-in striker Merino for another match-winning goal | Football News

Soccer-Arteta hails stand-in striker Merino for another match-winning goal | Football News

Published by Parlour News

By William Schomberg HT Image LONDON, – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his emergency centre-forward Mikel Merino for clinching another three Premier League points for the north Londoners on Sunday when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over city rivals Chelsea. Merino – a midfielder by trade – showed the instincts of a seasoned striker when he glanced a header from Martin Odegaard up and over Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal, the ball dropping into the net at the far post. “The way he’s approaching this is incredible,” Arteta told reporters. “He wants to understand everything. He wants to learn from it. He’s very critical of himself all the time. And at the end, the reality is that he wins matches for us.” Merino scored twice in a 2-0 win over Leicester City in February when he came on as a substitute to lead Arsenal’s attack and he has been playing in that position ever since. Asked about the 12-point gap between Arsenal and league leaders Liverpool, Arteta said the onus …

Arsenal keep alive faint title hopes with 1-0 win over Chelsea | Football News

Arsenal keep alive faint title hopes with 1-0 win over Chelsea | Football News

Published by Webster

Arsenal defeated London rivals Chelsea 1-0 for their first win in four Premier League games on Sunday as a headed goal by stand-in striker Mikel Merino boosted their faint hopes of catching up with runaway leaders Liverpool. Merino scored in the 20th minute when he stooped to flick his looping header over Robert Sanchez in theChelsea goal after a Martin Odegaard corner. The Spanish midfielder, who has led Arsenal’s attack in the absence of injured colleagues in recent weeks, came close to a second goal in the 60th minute but his side-footed volley was kept out by a fine save by Sanchez. Story continues below this ad Chelsea were also missing firepower up front with top scorer Cole Palmer absent through injury while centre forward Nicolas Jackson remains sidelined, also due to injury. Without them, Chelsea struggled to threaten Arsenal’s backline. The closest they came to an equaliser was in the 37th minute when defender Marc Cucurella hammered an angled volley at David Raya only for the ball to squeeze through the Arsenal goalkeeper’s hands …

Arsenal’s title hopes hits a snag as Mikel Arteta’s team go down 0-1 to West Ham | Football News

Arsenal’s title hopes hits a snag as Mikel Arteta’s team go down 0-1 to West Ham | Football News

Published by Webster

Arsenal’s hopes of catching up to Liverpool at the top of the table suffered an almighty blow when they were shocked by 16th placed West Ham United on Saturday. Arsenal, who are bereft of most of their forward players with Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli all out injured, suffered another setback when midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off with a red card. West Ham had taken the lead in the 44th minute when Jarrod Bowen scored from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka assist. The Gunners tried as hard as they could but could not find an equalizer with Mikel Arteta’s team still 7 points behind league leaders Liverpool who play Manchester City on Sunday. Last week, Spain’s Mikel Merino eased Arsenal’s attacking concerns with two late goals off the bench to secure a 2-0 win at relegation-threatened Leicester on Saturday that kept the Gunners in the Premier League title race. Story continues below this ad Earlier in the Premier League on Saturady, Manchester United rallied from two goals down before benefitting from a …