Mikel Merino has suffered a serious foot injury at Arsenal.
The Spain international came on as a substitute and scored against Manchester United at the Emirates, but he got hurt in the same game.
Mikel Arteta revealed that Merino was due to see a specialist after he missed the win against Leeds, and now, the news nobody wanted to hear has been confirmed.
Arsenal have revealed that Merino will undergo surgery in the coming days and will be out for an extended period of time.
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Spanish media claim Arsenal star Mikel Merino could miss the World Cup
Losing Mikel Merino is a big blow for Arsenal.
The Spaniard was not a regular starter by any means, but he plays a key role off the bench and in cup competitions for the Gunners.
Arsenal have revealed that Merino is aiming to return to action before the end of this season, but a media outlet in the player’s home country has suggested something new.
Marca have revealed that the Arsenal midfielder’s injury may rule him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The report claims that Merino’s injury is not a minor one, and even though he will be pushing to be fit before the end of the campaign, it will not be straightforward.
It has been suggested that it will be a ‘long recovery’ for the former Real Sociedad man and that his ‘recovering rhythm, continuity and level after an operation’ could delay his return.
Merino, who missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as well, has a mountain to climb now, with the outlet describing it as the ‘most complex challenge’.
It remains to be seen how his recovery process will go behind the scenes at Arsenal.
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Mikel Merino’s injury complicates things for Arsenal
Arsenal are the favourites to win the Premier League and the Champions League this season.
One of the biggest reasons why the Gunners are where they are is because of their incredible squad depth. Merino is a player who has offered solutions in multiple roles.
Arsenal will now look to replace Merino on transfer deadline day, but there is no guarantee that they will find a player before the window shuts.
Even if Andrea Berta does sign a player, it is extremely unlikely that he will be able to play in every central position from defensive midfield to striker as Merino does.
That makes things slightly more difficult for Arsenal as they enter the business end of the season.
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