2 Arsenal players involved in goals for Spain vs Bulgaria

Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino were both involved in the goals while Spain passed Bulgaria with a 3-0 victory on Thursday.

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Since the growing contingent of Spanish Arsenal players, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino have both been appointed in a midfielder three alongside Pedri in Bulgaria on Thursday.

The duo had also played in a midfielder three together in a frustrating day in Anfield last weekend, but there were no such frustrations on this occasion. In just five minutes, Zubimenddi had already helped the opening goal.

Receiving the ball a few meters outside a packaged penalty area, Zubimenddi found Mikel Oyarzabal with an intelligent pass, and the Real Sociedad striker ended clinically.

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Zubimenddi should have had another decisive pass for Oyarzabal later in half-time, heading for the attacker in the open space with only the goalkeeper to beat. But Oyarzabal hesitated and the goalkeeper was quick to close the angle, finally saving the shot with the legs.

Instead, Marc Cucurella doubled the advance of Spain, before Merino made 3-0 with a corner of a corner in the 38th minute.

Again, Merino had no chance of making one contribution to an objective. He saw a well blocked blow on the line in the first half, then another on the crossbar of the fingertips of the goalkeeper in the second half.

You can watch the strengths of the game here.

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Zubimendi ended up coming off in the 62nd minute, while Merino finished the full 90. David Raya was put on the bench on this occasion, Kepa Arrizabalaga did not receive an order, and Cristhian Mosquera is with Spain U21.

The match ended 3-0, and attentions will now turn to the next World Cup qualifier, which is an outside match against Turkey on Sunday September 7 at 7.45 p.m. BST.