16/09/2026
Mikel Merino on Captaining Arsenal: "It’s a huge honour, I’m so proud, and to represent this club in this way, wearing the armband - many legends have done it before me. To me it’s happiness and I try to do the best thing I can to represent this club, and I know how big it is to wear the armband, so I’m really happy."
"I think the assist was high pressure on the team, where I’m really alive to find that second ball and find Noni, and then he finishes with a really nice finish, and then the goal is a really good action from the team in the last third - when I get the ball, I can open the first touch and then just put it where the ‘keeper couldn’t get, so very, very happy, always good to be on the scoresheet, and will keep looking to score more goals."
Merino on Max Dowman: "He’s an unbelievable talent, honestly, so young, so alive and you can see the joy in his eyes when he plays football.
"Obviously, many things to improve - he’s very young - he needs to keep listening and learning from the veterans, but we’re here to support him and we’re going to get him to the best version of himself, for sure."
Mikel Merino on the schedule: "We’re used to it [the schedule], we know that we have all day travelling. Sometimes it’s hard to get away with family and friends, but it’s our job, it’s our passion, and we do it for the shirt. Yeah, tough challenges in front of us, but we’re ready for them, for sure.
[Arsenal]
![Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "Max [Dowman] was brilliant. Some actions made the difference and were outstanding. We know t...](https://img5.localgymsandfitness.com/044/512/122203777460445125.jpg)
