Merino scores and assists as Arsenal beat Ipswich 4-2

Mikel Merino captained Arsenal to a 4-2 Carabao Cup third-round victory at Ipswich Town, contributing a goal and an assist in the win at Portman Road.

"It's a huge honour," Merino said of wearing the armband. "I'm so proud, and to represent this club in this way, wearing the armband - many legends have done it before me. To me it's happiness and I try to do the best thing I can to represent this club, and I know how big it is to wear the armband, so I'm really happy."

The Spanish midfielder chipped a ball over the Ipswich defence to set up Noni Madueke's goal, then found the net himself late in the evening. Merino described his assist as coming from "high pressure on the team" before crediting the collective for his goal: "It's a really good action from the team in the last third."

Sixteen-year-old Max Dowman scored twice on his first start of the season, becoming Arsenal's second-youngest scorer in the Carabao Cup. Merino praised the teenager, calling him "an unbelievable talent, honestly, so young, so alive" while noting he still has much to learn from senior players.

Merino also acknowledged the travelling Arsenal supporters who have followed the club across the UK in recent weeks. "It doesn't matter where we go, they're there, behind us, supporting, giving us all the strength," he said.