Due to injury, Mikel Merino’s eagerly awaited Arsenal debut has been postponed, and it now appears he may be out for a long time. The unfortunate incident that transpired during training has prevented the midfielder from playing against Brighton.
In a press conference held prior to Arsenal’s match against Brighton, manager Mikel Arteta revealed that Merino had suffered a shoulder injury—possibly involving a minor fracture—during his very first training session with the team. The injury happened when Merino stumbled and teammate Gabriel fell on top of him. Given the excitement surrounding his arrival, this was an especially frustrating way for the new signing to get hurt.
Merino’s absence may extend significantly beyond the initial thought of a few weeks, according to a recent report from the *Daily Mail*. Journalist Sami Mokbel reports that Merino may not return to the field for a few more weeks as he is now anticipated to be sidelined until mid-October “at the earliest.”
It is hoped that Merino will be ready to return to the squad following the international break in October. There is hope that Merino will be able to play in Arsenal’s first game after the break, which is an away match against Bournemouth.
The good news is that Merino will not be called up for Spain’s national team during the upcoming international breaks. This will allow him to stay at Arsenal’s Sobha Realty Training Centre and concentrate on his recovery, avoiding the risks of playing internationally and aggravating his injury further. Despite this positive development, Merino’s injury is still a significant setback for Arsenal, especially considering the club’s demanding schedule over the next few months, which includes a crucial Premier League matchup against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium following the Bournemouth game.
Merino’s return to action as soon as possible will be highly anticipated by Arteta, as the team will require all hands on deck to get through this hectic time. Supporters of Arsenal will be hoping that the midfield player makes a full recovery and can help the team in the upcoming crucial games.
