The 10 Arsenal games Mikel Merino will miss through injury

Carlo Garganese

• 4 Sept 2024 15:30 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are bracing themselves to the reality that they will be without new signing Mikel Merino for up to two months with injury.

Merino officially joined Arsenal last week for an initial fee of €32 million from Real Sociedad, signing a four-year contract at the Emirates.

However, he is facing an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a fractured shoulder during his very first training session with the club.

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The Spaniard collided with centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes at the Colney training ground to suffer the injury.

When is Merino back from injury?

Merino is not expected to return from injury until the end of October.

He could miss up to 10 matches for Arsenal.

He will miss the north London derby with Spurs on September 15, the away trip to Manchester City on September 22, as well as the Premier League matches against Leicester City, Southampton, Bournemouth and Liverpool.

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In addition, Merino will be absent from the EFL Cup match against Bolton, and the Champions League games against Atalanta, PSG and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Merino could return and make his Arsenal debut on November 2 away against Newcastle in the Premier League.

The 28-year-old Merino saw his reputation soar during Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 campaign.

He was not a starter at Euro 2024 but played a crucial role off the bench, scoring a brilliant headed winner in the 119th minute against Germany in the quarter final.

Merino at Real Sociedad

Merino made his name at Osasuna, coming through the youth ranks and emerging as one of Spain’s most promising young central midfielders.

However, transfers to Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United were not a success, leading to him returning to Spain with Real Sociedad in 2018.

It is in the Basque Country that Merino developed into a big star. He has 242 appearances for Real Sociedad, scoring 27 goals and becoming a pillar of the team.

He won the Copa del Rey in 2020 and played a crucial role in Sociedad even playing in the Champions League.

Merino has won 28 caps for Spain, scoring two goals and winning Euro 2024. He also won the Euros with his country at Under-19 and Under-21 level.