Arsenal new boy Mikel Merino has been working his way back from a shoulder injury (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal supporters breathed a collective sigh of relief after summer signing Mikel Merino was pictured back in training at London Colney earlier today.
Merino completed a move from Real Sociedad to Arsenal towards the end of the transfer window in a deal worth around £32million, with Mikel Arteta keen to strengthen in midfield.
However, the 28-year-old, who returned from Spain’s triumphant Euro 2024 campaign earlier in the summer, sustained a shoulder injury in his first training session with the Gunners.
It’s understood Merino collided with Gabriel Magalhaes in the session, resulting in a small fracture, and the former Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund man is still waiting to make his first-team debut for Arsenal.
But facing the media ahead of Arsenal’s 4-2 defeat of Leicester, Arteta confirmed Merino was closing in on his return and the midfielder was put through his paces with the rest of the squad this afternoon.
Takehiro Tomiyasu also trained after missing the start of the season with a knee injury and Riccardo Calafiori joined the Japan defender in the session.
There had been fears over Calafiori’s fitness after the Italian was pictured wearing a protective knee sleeve at the weekend – but it appears he has shaken off the problem.
Merino, Calafiori and Tomiyasu all out for #AFC training here pic.twitter.com/R320ZF4tUN
— Kaya Kaynak (@kayakaynak97) September 30, 2024
Arsenal fans have had to be patient for Merino to make his debut and it’s fair to say they are excited to finally see the Spaniard in good spirits back out on the grass.
Me after the first martinelli – merino give and go on Saturday pic.twitter.com/DD9UvleUYl
— Jakeð§ (@afcjaake) September 30, 2024
Mikel Merino and Tomiyasu are back. Good times lie ahead pic.twitter.com/v17DF5d1xT
— Afc Soldier (@afc_soldier) September 30, 2024
Look at that pass from Merinoðð https://t.co/DZnzNOSMA8
— SAKâï¸ð (@m10_offset) September 30, 2024
Mikel Merino is back in trainingð¥ð¥, it gonna be scary but not for us.
— Derrick (@derrickoti24) September 30, 2024
Mikel Merino back in trainingð¤©ð¥³ pic.twitter.com/UvMxcndxzv
— Abdul Wahab (@AbdulWa35333056) September 30, 2024
Merino is back
Calafiori is playing for my club
Timber is my rb
Nelli is cooking
Saka is in his best formpic.twitter.com/occw2R7zIm
— YAREDð®ð¹ (@Afcyared) September 30, 2024
Merino backðâ¤ï¸pic.twitter.com/6VMIGyjM2r
— TH14â¢ï¸â¡ï¸ (@Thomasconlin17) September 30, 2024
I’m really happy to hear that Mikel Merino is doing the first team training… pic.twitter.com/2Xh87RtAW8
— AFC Strongtower (@Strongtower_001) September 30, 2024
Ben White did not train and looks likely to miss Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday evening.
The Englishman has been nursing a groin injury and has missed the club’s last two matches against Bolton and Leicester in the Carabao Cup and Premier League respectively.
Martin Odegaard remains sidelined with an ankle problem – which he suffered while playing for Norway during the international break – and is not …read more
Source:: Metro
