What's happened
Arsenal's new signing Mikel Merino is sidelined with a shoulder injury sustained during training, delaying his debut. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the injury, which appears to be a small fracture, will keep Merino out for several weeks. The midfielder joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad just days prior.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Alex Pattle from The Independent, Mikel Arteta described Merino's injury as 'very unfortunate' and indicated that further tests are needed to assess the full extent of the damage. Meanwhile, George Sessions highlighted Merino's potential impact on the squad before the injury occurred, emphasizing his experience and winning mentality from the Euros. Ed Aarons noted that Merino's signing was a strategic move for Arsenal, aimed at strengthening their midfield options. The contrasting perspectives underline the disappointment surrounding his injury, especially given the high expectations set by his recent performances.
How we got here
Mikel Merino joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad on August 27, 2024, for an initial fee of approximately £28.4 million, with potential add-ons. He was part of Spain's Euro 2024-winning squad and was expected to enhance Arsenal's midfield.
More on these topics
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Arsenal Football Club is a professional football club based in Islington, London, England, that plays in the Premier League, the top flight of English football.
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Mikel Arteta Amatriain, is a Spanish professional football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of Premier League club Arsenal.
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Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southwestern Europe with some pockets of territory across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean. Its continental European territory is situated on the Iberian Peninsula.