Mikel Merino is eagerly anticipating the chance to renew his strong connection with Martin Odegaard after finally completing a move to Arsenal.
The midfield duo are already very familiar with each other’s games, having featured together for Real Sociedad during current Gunners skipper Odegaard’s time on loan at Anoeta from Real Madrid during the 2019/20 LaLiga campaign.
Such a promising partnership is now set to resume at Arsenal, with Merino having completed his long-awaited switch to north London from Sociedad worth up to £31.6million on Tuesday after passing a medical and penning an initial four-year contract that includes the option for a further 12 months.
“Yes, we exchanged some messages a few days ago,” Merino told Arsenal’s official website when asked about Odegaard. “He told me he was really happy for me to take this next step in my life.
“It was amazing sharing the pitch with him back in the day. I have a lot of good memories of our connection and hopefully we can have an even better connection here.
“I remember a pretty good play we made against Osasuna away, where we had a one-two and it finished in a goal for us. But just in general, in every training, in every game I think we had a good connection.
“He’s a player who moves extremely well behind the back of the midfielders, and for us who play in a similar position, he made the job really easy for me.”
Odegaard is far from the only member of Arsenal’s current playing squad with whom Merino is familiar, with Kieran Tierney having also spent last season on loan in Spain with Sociedad.
The Scottish left-back - currently sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained at Euro 2024 this summer - has also been a crucial sounding board and pillar of advice for Merino as he looked to complete his high-profile switch to Arsenal.
“Yes of course, we were talking last year as well, when we was there,” Merino said of Tierney. “I was asking some questions, because I always want to learn new things, and how life was in Arsenal, how they were doing things.
“We spoke a few hours ago as well, and he said that this is a huge step for me in terms of my football career and also that I will love London and England. If he says this is a good place, then this is a good place.”
Merino, who has been handed the No23 shirt at Arsenal, is an international team-mate of David Raya’s, with the duo having tasted European Championship glory together with Spain in Germany last month following a dramatic 2-1 final win over England in Berlin.
Merino’s contribution to the cause included a crucial last-gasp extra-time winner to see off the hosts in the quarter-finals.
He expects Raya to be an important figure too as he settles into life at Arsenal, with the latter having also completed a permanent £27m move to the club this summer after a successful season on loan from London rivals Brentford last term.
“It was an amazing summer for us,” Merino said of winning the Euros alongside Raya. “Obviously when the rumours started, he was always asking me, what’s going on, am I going to see you next year with us?
“We have a good relationship and of course winning the Euros together, so I’m just extremely happy as well to have him here. I think he will be a big help for me to adapt into this new life. He’s an amazing team-mate.”
