At 02:45 on September 8th Beijing time, the sixth round of the European World Cup qualifiers Group E saw a heavyweight encounter as Spain played away against Turkey. The match turned into a one-sided affair, with Arsenal's Merino netting a hat-trick, Oyarzabal providing three assists, Pedri scoring twice, Yamal assisting both goals, and Ferran also finding the net. Spain crushed Turkey 6-0 on the road, extending the La Roja's unbeaten streak to 27 official matches, securing back-to-back World Cup qualifying wins and leading the group, while Turkey sits third with 3 points from 2 games.

Merino, who scored the hat-trick, earned the highest rating of 9.8 after the match. His attacking prowess is undeniable, whether playing his natural midfield role or as a makeshift striker on the road, he is a significant threat. Perhaps Arsenal's best striker is already within the team—Merino. The new signing Yokores has watched a few games and seems adequate against weaker teams but less effective in tough matches; some might say Merino as a stand-in striker is more reliable. What are your thoughts?

Turkey's coach, former Roma star and "Little Airplane" Montella, suffered a crushing 6-0 home defeat to Spain, marking Turkey's second-largest home loss after the 0-8 defeat to England in 1984. However, Montella is safe for now as Turkey aims to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

This was Merino’s first career hat-trick, and he took home the match ball after the game. He had already scored 4 goals in the first two matches of this World Cup qualifying campaign, equaling his previous total in the last qualifiers. Additionally, this hat-trick marks the first official Spain hat-trick since Morata scored against Georgia on September 8, 2023. Arsenal fans, what do you think—does the strongest striker already play within the squad? Is he more dependable than Yokores?