ARSENAL will be without defender Mikel Merino who they signed during the latest Summer Transfer Window till October.
The 2024 Euro Winner with Spain has been plagued with a shoulder injury which he picked up after only his first training session with Mikel Artetas’ Gunners.
Merino was brought to the Emirates on the 27th August in a deal worth nearly £32.6 million from Spanish La Liga side Real Sociedad where he had less than a year on his contract.
The deal is worth initially £28.4 million as well as an additional £4.2m worth of bonuses.
The defender brought to sure up Arsenals defence played nearly 200 matches overall for The White and Blues during a six year career from 2018 to 2024, where he claimed 20 strikes to his name.
Merino has also previously tasted life in the Premier League before when at Newcastle United playing 24 games for the Magpies across two spells from 2017 to 2018.
One of these spells saw him on loan at St Jame’s Park from German Giants Borussia Dortmund, during the second half of the 2016/17 season, he was then permanently brought for the next campaign before flying out to Spain in 2018.
Arteta mentioned how the new signing got injured immediately at London Colney;” He landed on the floor and Gabi (Magalghaes) landed on top of him and it looks like he has a small fracture probably.
“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.”
Despite not being included in Arteta’s on-field plans at the weekend during The North Londoner’s 1-1 home draw versus Brighton in the Premiership, Merino was witnessed sat watching the action unfold from the stands.
