Mikel Merino questions Arsenal change with Martin Zubimendi message - 'What is going on?'

Mikel Merino has been pleasantly surprised by Arsenal's new source of goals. Martin Zubimendi fired the Gunners to a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, finding the net either side of half-time.

The 26-year-old midfielder broke the deadlock in the first half with a brilliant volley from just outside Forest's box. Viktor Gyokeres doubled Arsenal's lead just after the break, before Zubimendi scored his second of the afternoon.

The Spain international has now equalled last season's tally for Real Sociedad in 24 fewer outings. After the game, Merino marked the victory with a celebratory post on Instagram, which eclipsed 90,000 likes in just a few hours.

Shining the spotlight on his fellow countryman and teammate, the Arsenal midfielder wrote: "3 goals and 3 points! Atmosphere was amazing!! What is going on with our midfielders lately?! Congrats on your brace!! @martin_zubimendi. Flying to Bilbao next. COYG."

Zubimendi commented on the post, sending a crying with laughter face, handshake and red heart emojis. Merino has also recently been among the goals, netting a hat-trick for Spain during the international break.

Speaking with reporters after the Forest victory, Mikel Arteta was also very complimentary of Zubimendi. On the midfielder's first goal, the Arsenal boss said: "I take zero credit for that incredible execution, the timing, the way he connects with the ball and the way the ball travels in that trajectory."

Arteta added: "Certainly, he's given us a lot of positive things, his presence, his authority on the pitch, the way he connects with the players and that composure that he's having. If he starts to add assists and goals like this, it's another dimension of a player."

On the new players, like Zubimendi, enjoying big moments, Arteta said: "That's very positive because, as well as some of the players that we decided to take off, when you see the reception and the connection they build with our supporters already.

"That's exactly what you need because that's going to help you, it gives confidence, it gives you more ambition to do better, and they are all in a good place."

On the impact of the new faces at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta said: "I have no question in terms of what we want and dressing room and feeling part of that or the support that we're going to have from our people, no question.

"But then things have to click and go well for you in the first instances. We've tried to create the right environment for them, and the quality is there. You can see they're going to add so much value to the team."

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