Merino: "What player wouldn't want to be a starter?"

Merino defends his substitute role at Arsenal, saying players who finish matches win championships, though he'd naturally prefer to start.

Mikel Merino addressed his role as a substitute for Spain ahead of the Czech Republic match, defending his situation with a smile. "What player wouldn't want to be a starter?" he said, adding that he feels valued despite wanting more playing time. He acknowledged that Arsenal's squad is very deep, making minutes difficult to come by, but expressed optimism that things could change.

Merino emphasized the importance of players who finish matches, citing manager Luis de la Fuente's philosophy that those who complete games win championships. He took his substitute role positively, noting that praise for his impact off the bench is always welcome.

On Spain's unbeaten run, he said the team takes it naturally and focuses only on the next match against Czech Republic, which he called key to their campaign.