In last night’s Carling Cup encounter between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, Spaniard Fran Merida was one of a number of potential stars that Arsenal had on show. Despite missing Jack Wilshere, youngsters Kieran Gibbs, Craig Eastmond and Aaron Ramsey all featured, but it was Fran Merida who stole the show with a stunning first half strike. The 19 year old Spaniard impressed throughout, and Arsenal fans will be hoping that Merida can meet the standard set by Captain Cesc Fabregas.

Merida and Fabregas share many similarities. Apart from them both being Spanish, they have both played for Barcelona youth teams and share the same agent. Like Fabregas, Merida is technically gifted and highly creative, and is at home in either central or the left side of midfield. On the evidence of Wednesday night, Merida like so many of his young teammates is incredibly comfortable on the ball, and has an eye for goal as he illustrated with a stunning first-time left-foot strike that went in off the post, which was clearly enjoyed by compatriot Fabregas. Merida has a bright future ahead of him and will have further chances to impress this season as Arsenal progressed to the quarter final of the Carling Cup.

Merida, who is hoping to secure a long-term contract in the near future, was going to be sent out on loan to Levante this season, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger decided that he had too much quality to leave. After the match last night he told The London Evening Standard, “I am really happy here and things are going OK. It was my first goal for the club so I am really happy, especially as we won against a really tough team.” If the match against Liverpool is anything to go by, then Arsenal have a very bright future ahead of them, and Merida is the pick of the bunch.

One of Merida’s greatest achievements in his career was when he starred at the Uefa Under-19 Championships in July 2008 and was named in the tournament’s Top Ten stars for the future. Like all of Arsenal’s youngsters he has a great technique and is always looking for the ball and is not afraid to play himself out of any situation. He is now considered one of Arsenal’s prized assets for the future, and will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres and make his mark in the Premier League.

The pressure on Merida will now be ramped up a level after his exploits against Liverpool and people will be watching out for him in the next round. Comparisons between him and Fabregas are always going to be made due to the many similarities and it will be interesting to see if he can live up to the expectations. But one thing’s for sure, Fran Merida is a player to look out for and he has bags of potential and the ability to become a future Arsenal and Spanish star.