MIKEL MERINO says Arsenal's giants are more like a basketball team.
The midfielder is 6ft 2in, which made him one of the tallest players at old club Real Sociedad.
But Merino admits it feels like he has moved to the land of the giants since joining Arsenal in the summer, because head coach Mikel Arteta has built a team of footballers who are 6ft-plus.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are the only players in the first-choice XI who are under 6ft, as Arteta wants his players to be strong in the air and have a physical presence.
Spain regular Merino said: "Sometimes it is crazy. I am in the corridors of the training ground just walking, and back at my old club I used to be one of the tallest.
"Now I look around and everyone is taller than me. We look like a basketball team.
"Football has changed and you need a strong team, physicality is key, we need to be the most complete team possible. You need the physical aspect, aspect, the tactical one, you need to be a total team to achieve big things, as we do.
Bu hikaye Daily Express dergisinin October 22, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Daily Express dergisinin October 22, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
BAXTER BASICS
Fin has a simple plan to end jinx
LEWIS MAKES QUICK U-TURN
Hamilton admits he wanted to leave Mercedes early
War hero Ray dies at age 105
RAYMOND Whitwell an ordinary man who did the extraordinary for Britain during the Second World War - has died aged 105.
Adventurer's discovery in remote ocean shocks marine science experts
THERE'S no escaping microplastic pollution in our oceans...traces have now reached the most remote water on Earth.
Woman battles ex in row over £18m property
A WOMAN is locked in a court fight with her tycoon ex after claiming she was promised half of their £18million house.
UK choir is world's favourite boyband
THEY can lay claim to being the world's biggest boyband with millions of fans globally - yet many of us haven't heard of South London sensations Libera.
Helping terminally ill patients to end their suffering is one of the most rewarding things that I've ever done
HAVING the option of an assisted death \"takes the fear out of the dying process\" for terminally ill patients, a US medic says.
Storm Bert sweeps in as snow shuts schools
HUNDREDS of schools closed yesterday as snow hit parts of the UK - and there is weekend chaos to come when Storm Bert barrels in.
£72m cost of Charles' cut-price Coronation
TAXPAYERS spent £72million on the King's Coronation last May less than half that of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, according to Government figures.
British lawyer, 28, dies with four others after free shots' poisoning
A BRITISH lawyer has died on holiday in Laos after apparently being poisoned by a drink contaminated with methanol.
