Merino: Atletico Madrid are a complete team and it’s unfair to label them a defensive team

In the third round of the Champions League, Arsenal will face Atletico Madrid at home. Before the game, Arsenal midfielder Merino talked about Atletico Madrid and Simeone in an interview.

Merino praised Atletico Madrid as a very comprehensive team and believed that it was unfair to criticize it as a defensive team. He said: "It is very unfair to be seen as negative if you do your job well. You have to perform well in defense and set-pieces, which is what we do, but we are also good at attacking. Many people think that Atletico Madrid is a defensive team... but to win games, you have to be a comprehensive team."

Merino also emphasized that the team led by Simeone was competitive from the beginning to the end of the game, and that the Shenzhen Army has high-level players. "We all know the level of Atletico Madrid and the ability of the coach. We respect them very much."

At the same time, Merino also praised Arsenal's ambition under Arteta's coaching. "He is very committed and wants everything to be perfect. We need to keep this mentality in every game and every training. He pushes us to improve and always supports us in difficult moments."

On a personal level, Merino believes that his work at Arsenal has allowed him to adapt to different situations in the game and apply these experiences to the Spanish national team. "Now I am closer to the penalty area and can learn how to face the opponent's full-backs and centre-backs. Every training session helps me become a threat in the penalty area."

Finally, the midfielder admitted that returning to the Premier League was a big motivation for him, thus choosing Arsenal in "a very busy summer". He concluded: "Having one of the best coaches in the world is also a factor."