News about Mikel Merino

ISAAN KHAN: Mikel Merino has compared Arsenal's giant stars to a 'basketball team' and backs his team to continue utilising their advantage - particularly on set-pieces in future contests. He is one of a number of players at the north London club who are over 6ft - Merino stands at 6ft 2in - with physicality an aspect that has come to the fore under Mikel Arteta.

ISAAN KHAN AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: By the hour mark, Mikel Arteta had seen enough. The score was 1-1. Time for a triple substitution to shake things up. Off went Raheem Sterling, Jorginho and Gabriel Jesus. On came Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard. Eight minutes later, Martinelli scored from a Bukayo Saka cross to set Arsenal on their way to victory over Southampton. Jesus, who had made his first start of the season, could only watch. He is the Arsenal nearly man who always seems to be on the verge of turning the corner - but never quite does.

Mikel Merino has revealed that he was left amazed by Arsenal's training methods. The midfielder made his Arsenal debut as a substitute in the 2-0 win against PSG on Tuesday night. Merino, who joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad in the summer, missed the start o the season with a fractured shoulder.

Mikel Merino could be set to make his Arsenal debut against Paris Saint-Germain. The 28-year-old Spanish midfielder joined the Gunners from Real Sociedad for £33million in August. But he then suffered a 'small fracture' to his shoulder during his first training session with his new club. Merino has so far missed six games with this injury but he recently returned to training. He was spotted on Tuesday afternoon with the rest of the Arsenal squad attending a pre-match meeting at a Hilton hotel in London.

ISAAN KHAN: Mikel Merino has been pushing Arsenal staff to let him out 'the cage' as he has a chance of returning next week from his fractured shoulder in a major boost for the club. The midfielder has been made to wait for his Gunners debut since signing from Real Sociedad after suffering a freak injury in his first training session, Gabriel having landed on him. But according to Mikel Arteta, Merino could be back ahead of schedule for Arsenal's match against Southampton next weekend. Prior to the Gunners' match again Leicester on Saturday, Arteta said: 'Tomorrow is too soon. Next week we'll see. He had partial training today. He's been working so hard.

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has admitted that he 'misses' three former team-mates following their recent departures.  This summer's transfer window proved to be another busy one for Mikel Arteta's side, with Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling among new arrivals.  However, a number of players headed for the exit, with some of them having been on the Arsenal books for over a decade. 

ISAAN KHAN IN BERGAMO: Martin Odegaard has sustained 'significant' damage to an ankle ligament which will see him out for a 'while', revealed Mikel Arteta on Wednesday. The development is a major blow for Arsenal ahead of their Premier League showdown against Manchester City this Sunday. It follows injuries to Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney who will all also miss the fixture.

Arsenal's injury epidemic may have just gone from bad to worse as Bukayo Saka limped out of the North London derby. The England international was taken off in the 86th minute of the tight affair with Mikel Arteta's men leading 1-0. He was replaced by 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri. The change didn't seem to be a strategic tinstead it looked to be a forced one as the 23-year-old went down moments before with a suspected injury.

Spurs will be looking to reignite their top four charge after a disappointing start to the season, while Arsenal will see this fixture as a must-win as they vie for their first Premier League title in 20 years. Mikel Arteta is facing a midfield crisis, with captain Martin Odegaard a major doubt after being forced off during Norway's win against Austria, Declan Rice unavailable as he serves his suspension, and new signing Mikel Merino ruled out with a shoulder fracture.

Spurs fans may have felt smug when they saw Arsenal's Martin Odegaard came off with an injured ankle on Norway duty on Tuesday evening. But any uplift in optimism will be dimmed by the news that one of their own flock has picked up an injury.

ISAAN KHAN: The Premier League season is barely four weeks old, yet Arsenal's latest title bid already faces a defining test. Arsenal travel to fierce rivals Tottenham on Sunday without the suspended Declan Rice, the injured Mikel Merino and - most likely - skipper Martin Odegaard, who hurt his ankle on international duty on Monday. It is the first test in a daunting eight-day stretch that also features trips to Atalanta and Manchester City and could derail Arsenal's season just as it is getting started. First up are Tottenham. Arsenal arguably have the better side, even without their absent midfield trio. But the venom that accompanies this derby often changes the dynamic.

Arsenal star Odegaard limped off in the second half of his country's 2-1 win over Austria in the Nations League on Monday in worrying signs for Gunners supporters. Odegaard looked in severe distress as he hobbled off the pitch, before he was later seen on crutches as he limped on to a private jet, with the issue described as a 'bad ankle injury'.

Arsenal fans were far from impressed when England's starting XI for Tuesday's Nations league clash with Finland was announced on Tuesday night. The Gunners received more bad news on Monday night with captain Martin Odegaard injuring his ankle while playing for Norway against Austria. New signing Mikel Merino was sidelined for up to two months after suffering a shoulder injury in his first training session while Declan Rice will be suspended for Sunday's north London derby after a controversial second yellow card against Brighton.

Arsenal are reportedly set to rebuff any advances from rival clubs for midfielder Jorginho. The Italian international faces an uphill battle to nail down a starting spot this season given the arrival of fellow central midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad. However, Merino faces a handful of weeks on the sideline after he sustained a small fracture in his shoulder as a result of a training ground collision with defender Gabriel.

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has named an Arsenal signing as the best business this summer.  The Gunners spent just over £100m in their bid to beat Manchester City to their first Premier league title since 2004.  David Raya was signed on a permanent deal from Brentford for £27m, while Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino joined for £42m and £33m respectively. 

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino is set to miss close to two months with the fractured shoulder suffered in his first training session after joining. Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that Merino was facing a spell on the sidelines after the midfielder was involved in a collision with centre back Gabriel Magalhaes at the club's London Colney HQ. And the Spain international is not expected back until the middle of October at the earliest in news that arrives as a major blow to the Gunners. There is hope Merino will have a chance to return after the October international break.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that new signing Mikel Merino will be out of action for 'a few weeks' after suffering a shoulder injury during his first training session with the club. Merino, a £33million arrival from Real Sociedad in Spain, had been hoping to make his Gunners debut against Brighton on Saturday. However, he will now have to wait until late September or early October following an accidental training ground clash with Arsenal defender Gabriel. 

Mikel Merino has completed his transfer to Arsenal from Real Sociedad. The 28-year-old midfielder has signed a long-term deal at the Emirates and will wear the No 23 shirt during his time in north London. Merino was part of the Spain side that triumphed at Euro 2024, featuring in every game as Luis de la Fuente's defeated England in the final last month.

Follow Mail Sport's transfer blog to be kept up to date with all the latest rumours and signings involving every Premier League side and more as the Transfer deadline looms.

MATT BARLOW: Arsenal's captain was 15 at the time and his father was trying to filter the clamour. His phone lit up daily with proposals from Europe's biggest clubs and then came a call-up to Norway's senior squad.Football reporters began travelling across Europe to find out what the fuss was all about. 'The big danger for every young kid is that they are satisfied too quickly,' Hans-Erik Odegaard told me with the wisdom of a former footballer turned coach, as we discussed his son's future in the humble surroundings of Stromsgodset's stadium in Drammen back in August 2014. 'They need a hunger to improve.' On Saturday, precisely 10 years on, Martin Odegaard was leading Arsenal to victory at Aston Villa, looking to improve on last season.

Mikel Merino has reportedly 'completed his Arsenal medical' as he edges closer to finalising a £33million deal to join the north London club from Real Sociedad.  Mail Sport reported last week that the Mikel Arteta's side had agreed a deal in principle with the LaLiga club to sign the Spain international, with the Gunners looking to bolster their midfield options.  Fabrizio Romano confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday that Merino had 'completed his medical' with Arsenal and that both clubs were 'exchanging documents'

DANNY MURPHY: While everyone has called for him to sign a traditional number nine, Arteta has signed an Italian defender, Riccardo Calafiore, and wants Spain midfielder Mikel Merino. I can see why. The marginal gains Arsenal are looking for is to have a squad where they can replace quality with quality when fatigue sets in. What cost them last year? The spell at Christmas when the fixtures piled up and they lost consecutive games to West Ham and Fulham.

Porto have agreed to re-sign Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira on a season-long loan. Vieira joined Arsenal from the Portuguese club in 2022 for £29.9million plus £4.4million in add-ons. The 24-year-old won't be in the Arsenal squad to face Aston Villa this weekend as he finalises his return to Porto, as reported by The Athletic. 

Arsenal have agreed a £32.67million deal in principle with Real Sociedad to sign midfielder Mikel Merino. The initial fee is £28.43m, with a further £4.24m in add-ons. The 28-year-old has agreed a four-year contract with the option of a further year, subject to passing a medical. The Gunners, who fell the wrong side of a two-horse race for the Premier League title against serial champions Manchester City last season, have already bolstered their ranks this summer with the arrival of ex-Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori.