Arsenal summer signing SLAMMED after disastrous Newcastle performance

Carlo Garganese

• 3 Nov 2024 09:39 GMT
• 4 min read

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has hit out at big money summer signing Mikel Merino after the Spaniard's dismal performance against Newcastle on Saturday.

Arsenal's poor form continued at St James' Park as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.

That result means Arsenal are seven points behind league leaders Liverpool after 10 matches and risk already falling out of the title race.

Merino endured a very difficult afternoon, losing the ball five times and failing to make a single successful tackle before being hauled off on the hour mark.

It compounded a very difficult start to his Arsenal career, with Merino missing nine matches with injury after fracturing his shoulder in his first training session at the club.

Since returning to fitness, Merino has struggled to get up to speed.

What did Wright say?

“You just feel like, at this stage of the season with 10 games in, we should not be playing and being as tepid as we are,” Wright added. “Not creating enough, not putting them under enough pressure.

“I thought Merino wasn’t tight enough in and around the midfield, I think he’s still getting up to speed. It really is quite frustrating to be 10 games in and feeling like you do now.

“That’s only because we know tough it is to try and chase down a Manchester City. One shot on target against Bournemouth, one shot on target today - it’s not good enough for a team going for a title.

“There’s a lot of work to be done in that dressing room. We can’t keep looking and saying we’re missing Martin Odegaard, because we know we’re missing that.”

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

However, he suffered a fractured shoulder during his very first training session with the club.

READ MORE: Arsenal top scorers 2024/25

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

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.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer news

He has yet to hit those heights with Arsenal.

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.