Myles Lewis-Skelly names ‘most underrated’ Arsenal teammate: ‘Doesn’t get the credit’

Myles Lewis-Skelly has named Mikel Merino as his ‘most underrated’ teammate at Arsenal, insisting the midfielder ‘doesn’t get the credit’ he deserves.

Merino joined Arsenal in the summer of 2024 from Real Sociedad and has proven himself to be a versatile part of Mikel Arteta’s squad.

The Spaniard has 16 goals and eight assists in 85 appearances for the Gunners and has regularly provided cover up front when injuries left Arsenal short of options.

Merino is yet to start a Premier League match this season, with the form of Lewis-Skelly and summer arrival of Bruno Guimaraes pushing him down the pecking order.

But despite that lack of regular minutes, Lewis-Skelly believes the 30-year-old should get far more recognition for what he brings to the Arsenal squad.

‘That guy there, I don’t feel like he gets the credit he deserves, man,’ Lewis-Skelly said of Merino in an interview with the Premier League.

‘Because even today I was speaking to him about, well, how do you score so many goals?

‘I want to learn because I want to add that to my game. The way he sees football is really good to learn from. He should get the props that he deserves.’

Asked how he compliments Arsenal’s midfield, Lewis-Skelly added: ‘The desire to score, the positions, where to be on the field.

‘I feel like he always knows where to be, when to be there. That’s something. as a football player, that’s everything.’

Merino also received his flowers from Spain manager Luis de la Fuente over the international break after scoring a late brace to help Spain win 2-1 against Croatia in the Nations League.

Speaking post-match, De La Fuent said of the midfielder: ‘It’s an honour to coach a player like that.

‘He has made it absolutely clear why I would have carried him in my arms to the World Cup.

‘In another country he would be more appreciated — I hope that changes.

‘I hope more will be done. Merino is one of the best in the world in his position.

‘He has the class to play in any team and can always play, obviously. He knows how to understand these moments of the match.

‘He has that gift that is the sense of the goal, for important goals, too.’

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