Devastating Injury Blow for Arsenal as Mikel Merino Exits Training With Shoulder Issue
Arsenal’s hopes of making a strong start to the Premier League season have suffered a severe setback after Mikel Merino picked up a freak shoulder injury in training on Friday. The Spanish midfielder, who only signed for the Gunners just three days ago, was expected to feature in Saturday’s match against Brighton.
According to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, Merino sustained the injury after colliding with team-mate Gabriel during training. The Brazilian defender landed on top of Merino, resulting in a small fracture. Arteta confirmed that the 28-year-old will be sidelined for "a few weeks," deals a significant blow to Arsenal’s squad depth.
Merino’s arrival was a major coup for the club, and fans were excited to see him in action. However, this untimely setback means that the former Real Sociedad star will have to sit out the early weeks of the campaign.
To make matters worse, Gabriel Jesus is also ruled out of Saturday’s clash due to a groin issue. Arteta’s comments only added to the concern, highlighting the severity of the injuries. "He [Merino] was really excited, and everything was looking really good. He landed on the floor, and Gabi landed on top of him… it looks like he has a small fracture, probably."
Arsenal’s sporting director Edu spoke glowingly of Merino, labeling him a "key target" for the club during the summer transfer window. Edu believes Merino will bring "experience, physicality, and athleticism" to the squad, citing his impressive performances with Spain at Euro 2024.
This setback presents an opportunity for Arsenal’s midfield options to step up, with youngsters like Martin Odegaard, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and Granit Xhaka waiting in the wings.
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