Merino on captaincy 'honour' and 'unbelievable' Dowman

[Getty Images] Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino, who was handed the matchday captaincy by Mikel Arteta for the second time against Ipswich Town , says it is "a huge honour to represent the club in this way". The 30-year-old previously wore the armband in Arsenal's Carabao Cup last-16 victory over Brighton last season. "Many legends have done it before me," Merino said. "I know it is just a Carabao Cup game, but to me it is happiness. "I try to do the best I can to represent this club and I know how big it is to wear the armband, so I'm really happy." Despite grabbing a 58th-minute goal himself at Portman Road, the Spaniard was keen to praise 16-year-old Max Dowman, who became the Gunners' second youngest goalscorer in the competition . "He is honestly an unbelievable talent," Merino added. "He is so young and so alive. You can see the joy in his eyes when he plays football. "Obviously there are things to improve as he is very young. He needs to keep listening and learning from us veterans. We are here to support him and we are going to get him to the best version of himself, for sure." The Carabao Cup fourth-round draw will take place on 16 September following the conclusion of Manchester United and Brighton 's third-round tie.