Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino is facing an uncertain period on the sidelines after sustaining a shoulder injury in his first training session with the club. The £31.6 million summer signing is expected to be out for “weeks”, as confirmed by manager Mikel Arteta. This setback leaves Arteta with a selection headache in midfield, especially with Declan Rice set to miss the upcoming North London Derby due to a red card suspension.
Merino, sporting a shoulder brace, watched from the stands as Arsenal drew 1-1 with Brighton & Hove Albion, with Joao Pedro equalizing Kai Havertz’s first-half goal. Arteta revealed that Merino was in “so much pain” after the injury, which was caused by a collision with teammate Gabriel Magalhaes during training.
The extent of Merino’s injury is still uncertain, with Arteta stating, “We have to see how long he will be out. He was in so much pain. We’ll have to do some more tests on that and then we’ll have more conclusive answers.” This leaves Arsenal fans anxiously awaiting updates on the midfielder’s recovery timeline.
In Merino’s absence, Arteta may turn to Thomas Partey, who started against Brighton and scored in the previous match against Aston Villa. Jorginho, who has yet to feature this season, could also be in contention for a starting spot in the midfield against Tottenham.
Havertz, who has been playing as a center-forward this season, may have to adapt to a different role in Merino’s absence. The German attacker has been in fine form, contributing two goals and an assist in the early stages of the campaign. It remains to be seen how Arteta will shuffle his lineup to cope with Merino’s injury and Rice’s suspension for the derby.
Despite the setbacks, Arsenal will be looking to maintain their momentum and secure a positive result in the upcoming fixtures. With key players stepping up in crucial moments, the Gunners will be aiming to overcome these challenges and continue their push for success in the Premier League.
As fans eagerly await Merino’s return, Arteta and his coaching staff will be working hard to ensure the team remains competitive and performs at a high level in his absence. The North London Derby looms large on the horizon, and Arsenal will be determined to put in a strong performance, regardless of the personnel issues they are currently facing.
