Mikel Merino: Arsenal midfielder proves Spain’s World Cup hero after overcoming injury that left him on a mobility scooter | Football news

Mikel Merino may have been hoping to feature before the 85th minute against Belgium following his match-winning impact from the bench against Portugal. Instead, he had to wait until the 86th. It doesn’t matter. Another late cao, another decisive goal.

He is the first player in the history of the World Cup to score the winning goals in different knockout games as a substitute player but that does not really mean that. Merino was given just nine minutes and stoppage time in both games. It was all he needed.

Four days after the brilliant strike that ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dream and broke Portuguese hearts, Merino was in the right place again, picking up Senne Lammens’ mistake with two minutes left to send Belgium through.

The 30-year-old has only started one game at the tournament but has only drawn Spain to the semi-finals.

All this came from a player who was doubted to be in the World Cup after suffering a stress fracture in his foot against Arsenal in January. Merino later revealed that the injury left him unable to walk for two months, requiring a scooter to get around.

“I had two options, to go down and cry about extinction, or to hold my head high, be positive and use my time to develop other aspects,” he said in an interview after his return to training in May.

The speed of his recovery highlights the work ethic and strength of character that makes it so important to his coaches but his remarkable impact on the field shows his greatest quality; his unusual habit of producing goals when it mattered most.

This is not the first time he has come up with his country.

At the European Championship two years ago, his header against Germany, in the last minute of extra time, allowed Spain to go on to beat England in the final.

He made a similar decision at Arsenal, where he went from midfielder to midfielder, and everything in between, following his arrival from Real Sociedad in the summer of Spain’s European Championship success in 2024.

He lists Liverpool, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Newcastle among the teams he has played against Arsenal, emphasizing the ability to get up in big games which he has shown against Spain.

All 11 goals in the Premier League have been scored by the Gunners except for one which has drawn them in games or put them ahead.

That figure helps explain why Mikel Arteta is held in high esteem and has the same level of trust in Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who started working with him in the country’s youth teams.

“I really like all the players, but there is something special about Merino because we have known each other for a long time,” he said earlier this week. “If necessary, I would pick him up from his house.

“He is world class. I want to emphasize the importance of the players who come from the bench. Mikel never disappoints. He bets in a safe way.”

After scoring in Spain’s winner against Portugal, another player may have had trouble not being called up until the 86th minute in their next game, as the last of the five substitutes.

But Merino’s determination to make a spectacle was evident in the speed of his reaction to bury his goal. He was waiting for the rebound when Pau Cubarsi hit his shot, monitoring the situation.

Spain may need to improve to get past France in the semi-finals. If not, however, they can always call Merino to sort it out.

“They’re not crazy, they could be better,” Micah Richards said BBC One after the game. “But they are getting over the line. It’s about moments in games and Merino has had moments in the last two games.”

History suggests he may have more to come.