Mikel Arteta faces further challenges as Arsenal’s injury situation deteriorates with troubling news regarding his latest acquisition.
The injury situation for Arsenal worsens, as Mikel Arteta faces a troubling development.
At the onset of the international break, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has encountered disappointing news concerning his recent signing, Mikel Merino. The prognosis is not favorable for the club based in north London.
Merino, a Euro 2024-winning midfielder, joined Arsenal just last week, with the club investing £31.6 million to secure him from Real Sociedad.
However, disaster struck during his inaugural training session when he collided with Gabriel Magalhaes, resulting in a shoulder fracture.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Merino is expected to be sidelined for approximately two months, which means he will be unavailable until after the next international break in October.
Currently, the coaching staff at the Emirates Stadium are optimistic that Merino will be ready to return for the Premier League match against Bournemouth on October 20 or the Champions League fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk the following week.
Merino is anticipated to compete for playing time in Arsenal’s midfield alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Thomas Partey has taken the third midfield position in the early part of the season, with Jorginho and young talent Ethan Nwaneri available as substitutes.
Arteta would have preferred to have Merino available immediately after the international break, especially with Arsenal set to face their fierce rivals Tottenham in the north London derby.
Midfield anchor Rice will be serving a suspension against Spurs following his red card in Saturday’s draw with Brighton.
In addressing the media about Merino’s injury, Arteta stated: “It’s very unfortunate. He had a collision and sustained a shoulder injury.
It appears he will be out for several weeks. He was genuinely excited, and everything seemed promising. He fell to the ground, and Gabi landed on top of him, which likely caused a small fracture.”
Although Merino will not participate, the upcoming match against Spurs may provide an opportunity for other recent signings to step up.
Versatile defender Riccardo Calafiori has yet to make a starting appearance since his £42m transfer from Bologna in July.
Additionally, there is a possibility for Raheem Sterling to make an appearance following his impressive deadline-day transfer from Chelsea.
The left-wing position at Arsenal appears to be open, as Gabriel Martinelli has not performed to expectations at the start of the season, and Leandro Trossard underwhelmed in his performance against Brighton.
With two victories and a draw in their first three matches, Arsenal currently occupies the fourth position in the Premier League, trailing behind Manchester City and Liverpool, both of whom have had perfect starts.
