'We're like a basketball team now' - Merino
- Published
Arsenal summer signing Mikel Merino has had a mixed time since signing for the club in a deal that could reach 拢31.6m but says he is on his way to getting back to his best.
The central midfielder, who got injured in his first training session and missed six games for the Gunners with a shoulder injury, was signed for his physicality, his ability to win duels on the pitch and his experience of winning trophies.
Mikel Arteta has been building a physically imposing team as he looks to compete with Manchester City for the Premier League title and Merino himself has been shocked by the size of his team-mates.
"Yeah, sometimes it is crazy," Merino said.
"I am in the corridors or the training ground just walking, and back at my old club I used to be one of the tallest so everyone was smaller than me and now I look around and everyone is taller than me.
"We look like a basketball team now.
"Football now has changed and now you need a strong team, physicality is key, we need to be the most complete team possible.
"You need the physical aspect, technical aspect, the tactical one, you need to be a total team to achieve big things as we do. It is not only about being tall and big, you need mentality.
"If you are tall and big but don鈥檛 go with the 100 per cent intention to win the ball, it's just nothing. The main thing is the mentality and we have that."