Mikel Merino removed any doubt about his commitment to Arsenal on international duty

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has rejoined the World Cup champions as Spain take on Czechia and England in the Nations League. In a press conference for his country, Merino touched on not starting for Arsenal and he gave a mature answer, saying that he understands the situation, and that he would like to prove himself given the opportunity.

In Spain, Mikel Merino is a beloved player. He played a key role in helping them win the World Cup in the summer, even if he wasn't a guaranteed starter.

The same can be said for his role at Arsenal. He remains of utmost importance to Mikel Arteta and his vision, despite Merino hardly being given the opportunity to start for the club.

Despite not starting for Arsenal every week, Mikel Merino is patient and he understands the decision of his manager. He remains optimistic that he can prove himself worthy of starting, among many exceptional players.

“Both Martin [Zubimendi] and I are fully aware of the situation at Arsenal,” said Merino. “In my view, it’s the best club in the world, the best team in the world right now, with a very deep squad where even those outside the starting 11 are of starting calibre."

“It’s very difficult to get minutes," continued Merino. "The manager has a lot of faith in us and we both understand what our current roles are. It’s a long season and circumstances can easily change. We’re both staying calm and are fully committed to training as hard as we can, waiting for the manager to give us our chance and then, on the pitch, proving that we deserve to be there.”

It would be great to see Merino handed more opportunities to prove himself at Arsenal. He is one of those players he touches on: a player who is good enough to start, but can't, given Arsenal's impressive squad.

Arsenal were recently knocked out of the EFL Cup by Fleetwood Town. The cup competitions are a great opportunity for Arteta to rotate his squad, giving minutes to players who are on the fringe of the first team. When Arsenal return to FA Cup action, Merino will surely get minutes, and he has also been used in the Champions League.

The good thing about Merino is that he has versatility on his side. He is not limited to just playing in the midfield, as he has the capability of playing through the centre of attack, too. He has proven for Arsenal and Spain in the past that he can be quite handy in the box.

Merino certainly isn't out of the equation for the Gunners, but it must be acknowledged that he doesn't make the strongest possible lineup. Such is the nature of football being a contact sport; it's reassuring to have an upper-tier replacement like Merino ready for the Gunners to call on.

Merino sent all the right messages to Arsenal fans and to Arteta.