Mikel Merino grew up with a footballing father, as his dad, Ángel Merino, played more than 250 La Liga matches before becoming a coach.He played an important role during the formative years of the Arsenal midfielder and helped him develop into the player he is today. Merino has since represented Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United and Real Sociedad before moving to Arsenal, where he won the Premier League title last season.Merino recalls his father’s influenceMerino has become an important player for Arsenal, with his versatility allowing him to contribute in both midfield and attack. However, he continues to remember the influence his father had on his development and the lessons he learned while watching him work.The Arsenal midfielder has explained how spending time around his father helped him understand football beyond simply playing the game. Watching his father analyse opponents and explain tactical situations gave him an early understanding of how players can influence matches.Merino believes those experiences helped shape the way he sees football today, particularly when it comes to movement and understanding the effect it can have on opponents.(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Merino explains how he learned the gameMerino said via The Sun:“I remember being 13, 14 years old and my father was training the academy players in Osasuna.“I would sit there with him and see him analysing rivals, and explaining to me why things happen.“Since then, it is a joy to understand the logic of the game, the tactics and what I can do on the pitch to affect the opponent.“Just with a movement of 10 metres, you can cause the opponent to lose their stability.”Those early experiences provided Merino with an opportunity to learn about the tactical side of football while he was still developing as a player. His father’s background as both a professional footballer and coach gave him valuable insight into the game.Merino has gone on to establish himself as an important member of the Arsenal squad, with his ability to operate in different positions making him a useful option for the team.His journey from watching his father coach academy players to winning the Premier League with Arsenal shows how those early footballing experiences became part of his development as a professional._____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…More Stories / Latest NewsMerino explains his father’s role in him becoming a top player 26 September 2026, 18:00How much Arsenal can claim in compensation from Manchester City26 September 2026, 17:00Ray Parlour says Arsenal players never cared or planned to go unbeaten in 2003/200426 September 2026, 16:00The post Merino explains his father’s role in him becoming a top player appeared first on Just Arsenal News.