Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard, Arsenal injury latest as debut possibility emerges ahead of Man City clash
Arsenal fans are eagerly anticipating seeing summer signing Mikel Merino in action after his move from Real Sociedad. The Spanish international is yet to make his debut after picking up an unfortunate injury in his first Gunners’ training session following a £32.67m move.
“Yesterday he had a collision and he has a shoulder injury,” Mikel Arteta said back in August. “It looks like he’s going to be out for a few weeks. “He was really excited and everything was looking really good. He landed on the floor and Gabi landed on top of him and it looks like he has a small fracture, probably.”
The original diagnosis for Merino was six weeks and Arteta has already revealed his plan to keep him close to the squad alongside his recovery. The 28-year-old appears to be settling in well with his Gunners’ teammates and was captured in public at David Raya’s birthday without his arm sling as well as the first-term photoshoot.
Merino won’t be involved for Arsenal’s trip to the Etihad this weekend with mid-October a more plausible return date with a November return the worst-case scenario. It means the Spaniard will miss games against Bolton, Leicester City, PSG and Southampton with the international break a sensible target.
The Gunners face Bournemouth on October 19th, before a Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek. The busy schedule gives Arteta plenty of opportunities to ease Merino back into the squad, with a tough test against Liverpool to round off October.
The Arsenal boss will take care integrating him back into the group given his injury was an impact one rather than a muscular injury, especially given Arteta’s training sessions are very intense.
A trip to Newcastle United at the beginning of November is another potential date for Merino to return, should his injury lay-off be worse than first expected. Games against Inter Milan and Chelsea follow that trip to St. James’ Park in a tough run of fixtures, but one that Arteta’s side will relish.
