Arsenal’s recent signing, Mikel Merino, who joined the club from Real Sociedad in a £31.6 million deal, has suffered a setback shortly after his arrival. The midfielder sustained a “small fracture” in his shoulder following a collision with a teammate during training, which will keep him out of action for “a few weeks.”
The injury occurred when Merino collided with teammate Gabriel during a training session, resulting in the unfortunate fracture. Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, expressed his disappointment over the injury during a pre-match press conference held earlier today, August 30, ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League clash against Brighton on Saturday, August 31, at 12:30 p.m.
“Yes, it’s very unfortunate,” Arteta said. “Yesterday, he had a collision, and he has got a shoulder injury, unfortunately. It looks like he is going to be out for a few weeks.”
Arteta elaborated on the incident, stating, “He was excited and everything was looking really good. He landed on the floor, and Gabi landed on top of him, and it looked like he had a small fracture, probably. We have to see. He was in so much pain, we have to wait to do some more tests.”
Despite the setback, Arteta remains optimistic about Arsenal’s form. The team has secured victories in their first two Premier League matches against Wolves and Aston Villa, and they are now preparing to face Brighton at the Emirates Stadium. Both Arsenal and Brighton currently boast a 100 percent winning record in the league, making the upcoming match a highly anticipated encounter.
Merino’s absence is a blow for the Gunners, but with the depth in their squad and a strong start to the season, they are expected to continue their good form as they look to maintain their winning streak in the Premier League.
