Mikel Merino warns Arsenal over deceptive Man City form | OneFootball

The Premier League champions have struggled this season but remain a huge threat

Mikel Merino has warned his Arsenal team-mates they cannot afford to underestimate Manchester City ahead of Sunday’s showdown at Emirates Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side have also struggled in Europe and on Wednesday night only just made it through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

City booked a spot in the play-off rounds by coming from behind to beat Club Brugge.

This is football, sometimes there are ups and sometimes there are downs

Mikel Merino on Man City

“This is football, sometimes there are ups and sometimes there are downs. The good thing is that if you behave in the right way, with the players they have they will always be there.

“They are always a threat and we know that. We are going to face that game with all our potential, with all our energy.

“Because you can’t get relaxed in these kind of games — they are a top-level team. Hopefully, we can show it, we can go full gas from the beginning and show our fans we want to win this game.

“We have to respect our principles, do what we do on a daily basis in the training ground. Be ourselves, be brave, with our people behind us. That has to be a major asset for us.

“It is going to be my first game against City and I am expecting a huge atmosphere at home, like always. I can’t wait to see the atmosphere and hopefully we can get the win.”

Ethan Nwaneri scored his first Champions League goal

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Arsenal geared up for Sunday’s game against City by beating Girona 2-1 on Wednesday night to book a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Gunners went behind in the first half after former Tottenham winger Arnaut Danjuma struck, but a Jorginho penalty and a brilliant goal from Ethan Nwaneri secured the win.

Nwaneri’s goal was his sixth of the season and Merino believes the 17-year-old has a bright future ahead of him.

“This kind of goal does not happen by chance,” said Merino. “This kind of action is something you train.

“He is always trying to make this shot, trying to cross to the second post from the right side. It is something he trains every day. Obviously he has an amazing talent but there is nothing that comes without hard work.

“He has huge confidence in himself. The good thing as well is that he has amazing team-mates around him. We make sure that he is always comfortable.

“We are always telling him what to do and helping him, maybe more in the tactical aspect where, at 17, obviously you are not at the best level of your career. I think he is going to be an amazing player in the future.

“We only have to make sure that we help him, we make him feel comfortable on the pitch. The rest, with the talent he has and the mentality he shows in every game and every training session, he is going to keep growing, keep learning and become an amazing player.”