Mikel Merino has entered his second season as an Arsenal player.
The Gunners signed the Spain international from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2024. Mikel Arteta was desperate to get him, and after weeks of negotiations, a deal was struck.
Merino has become an important player for club and country since he joined Arsenal, but the start of his career in the famous red and white was not easy.
The midfielder has now given an insight into what happened as soon as he arrived.
Mikel Merino opens up on the injury he had ‘never heard of’ after joining Arsenal
Mikel Merino came to Arsenal with some big expectations.
The Spaniard’s aerial prowess excited Gooners when he signed last year, and many supporters were desperate to see him play.
However, in his very first training session, Merino suffered a shoulder injury that delayed his debut by a month.
The Arsenal number 23 has now revealed that his injury was so rare that he didn’t even know that it was possible to suffer on a football pitch.
He said on La Media Inglesa: “The beginning wasn’t the easiest.
“With that injury as soon as I arrived, with all the expectations I had from the beginning, wanting to do well, with the signing that cost money, wanting to show what you’re like right away…
“And having to deal with something as delicate as a scapula, which I never heard of in my life, that a broken scapula is an injury in football. But hey, luckily that’s in the past now.”
Mikel Merino could start in Arsenal’s next Champions League game
Merino was never going to be the first choice at Arsenal when he joined the club, and that is not expected to change this season either.
However, the Euro 2024 winner could get a start when the Gunners face Slavia Prague in their next Champions League game.
That is because Martin Zubimendi is suspended after picking up his third booking of the competition against Atletico Madrid.
Declan Rice should be rested because he is at risk of a suspension, so we think Merino has a big chance of starting that game.
It will be interesting to see how he will fare if he does get the nod.
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