Arsenal star compared to one legend by another

Former Spain star Iker Casillas has compared Mikel Merino to David Villa, following the Arsenal midfielder’s latest winning goal at the World Cup.

Having scored a winner as a late substitute in his team’s previous match against Portugal, Arsenal’s Mikel Merino came off the bench late in Spain’s quarter-final game against Belgium on Friday night.

Once again, Merino provided the game-changing moment, pouncing on a spill by Manchester United’s Senne Lammens to fire home for 2-1 and another winning goal.

OptaJoe reports that Merino is now for the first player in World Cup history to score the winning goal in two different knockout stage matches as a substitute.

After the game, Spain legend Iker Casillas paid Merino the compliment of comparing the Arsenal man to David Villa, admitting on social media: “Merino reminds me of Villa…”

The comparison makes sense, as Villa scored two winning goals at exactly the same stages in the 2010 World Cup, albeit not as a substitute. Villa scored the winner in a 1-0 against Portugal in the last-16, then scored another winner in the quarter-finals against Paraguay.

That was Villa’s final goal at the tournament, but he did go on to win it with Spain. Merino would surely take that deal if offered to him now.

On his winning goal, Merino joked to the media that he had to score a winner against Belgium, because his family weren’t there for his winner against Portugal.

“Since they weren’t there for the Round-of-16, I’ve had to repeat it so they can experience it live!” Merino told Mundo Deportivo.

“Honestly, I’m so happy they’re here because they are my source of strength. And, well, I’m sure that part of the luck I had—with the ball falling right to me—came from the good energy they’ve given me.

“I feel privileged to be living through this, and to have my family here with me on top of that.

“I remember having dinner with my parents and aunts and uncles the other day and saying, ‘What I’m experiencing is incredible—having such a beautiful son, being so happy with my wife, having family close by.’ Well, today, that feeling is even stronger.”

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