SURGERY SUCCESS: DISCOVER MIKEL MERINO’S TIMELINE FOR AN ARSENAL RETURN THIS SEASON
Mikel Merino faces an 8-week race to fitness for Arsenal and the 2026 World Cup after surgery on a rare foot fracture.
Mikel Merino just had surgery on his foot after picking up an injury at the end of Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United. There’s a decent chance he’ll return before the season wraps up, but he’s got a tough road ahead if he wants to play any part in what’s shaping up to be a nail-biting title race. Arsenal sit six points ahead of Manchester City right now, holding onto the top spot.
Football.London reports that Merino, who got hurt against United, needed surgery and now faces a real sprint to get fit before the campaign ends. He’s 29, with four goals and three assists to his name this season, but he’s looking at about eight weeks off his feet. He’ll still be able to work out in the gym, and there’s some hope he’ll make it back in time, especially with Arsenal chasing their first Premier League title since 2004.
When asked if Merino might play again this season, Arteta didn’t have a definite answer. “Well, we hope so. I don’t know. Obviously, he needs to go through a procedure, which is never always positive. He’s a big player for us. An athlete who has such versatility and capacity to compete in various positions. Yeah, that’s a big blow.”
Turns out, Merino’s dealing with a fractured foot, and Arteta called the injury “rare”. “Let’s see. It’s a very rare injury, so we have to wait and see once we have the surgery. How does that react daily? Obviously, monitor it throughout the week for the surgery. I know Mikel is going to do absolutely everything that he possibly can to come back as quickly as possible. But, as well, he has to respect the healing process and the fact that, obviously, it’s an injury that is quite rare.”
Merino’s also hoping to get back before the season ends because he wants a spot in Spain’s squad for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
It’s tough luck for a player who was really hitting his stride. Earlier in the season, he told the club website, “Obviously, football is not only about results. It’s the main thing, but when you can enjoy playing with these teammates, it’s just a joy, and I’m enjoying it every time I’m on the pitch. I think everyone is giving their best and enjoying it as well, and that’s the best mix we can have, so performing and enjoying is the magic recipe, so yeah, very happy.”
Merino came in as a midfielder, but he’s turned into a genuine option up front. Arteta’s clearly impressed with how adaptable he is. “Yes, as a striker, certainly not [something he ever dreamt he could do], but that’s the thing as well that you learn when you sign a player – I knew he could offer much more than what he had, and especially after I met him for the first time because a player that has that amount of curiosity, the way he loves his profession and football, it’s difficult to put limits to that.”
Arsenal are still six points clear at the top, but injuries keep piling up. Along with Merino, they’re also missing Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. It’s not making this title chase any easier.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
