Mikel Merino Arsenal injury latest as Mikel Arteta handed huge boost amid PSG return chance
Arsenal look to have received a huge Mikel Merino injury boost before the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain. Mikel Arteta's side have been plagued by key absences and regular fitness worries since the start of the 2024/25 season, but some good news looks to have arrived.
Though David Raya was welcomed back in the 4-2 win over Leicester on Saturday, Ben White remained absent with Riccardo Calafiori also appearing to suffer an issue in bizarre circumstances. Celebrating Leandro Trossard's late goal, the Italy international went down to his knees and appeared to be in some pain.
In his pre-PSG press conference, Arteta was asked for a general team news update alongside the latest on White and Calafiori. "No big news," he revealed. "We have a training session this afternoon. We have to review a few players. Overall in terms of returning players nothing to give back.
"Those are the two players [White and Calafiori] that are in contention and we have to review today." Following his update, Arsenal went through their Monday training session that was open to the media with a double boost spotted. Alongside Calafiori, for the first time in over four weeks, Merino was out at London Colney for training.
Though White was nowhere to be seen, the return of Merino arrives as a very welcome boost for Arteta with captain Martin Odegaard still missing. The Spain international suffered a severe shoulder injury back in late August, though he finally looks set to make his debut very soon.
The chances of that arriving at Emirates Stadium this evening are quite low given it was his first session back following a four-week absence. However, with teams offered bigger benches in Europe, he could be named in his first matchday squad just to have him around the group.
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Given how Arteta has handled other players returning from injury, that is rather unlikely especially with an international break on the horizon where he can work directly with Merino to build his fitness. The 28-year-old featuring against Southampton this weekend is therefore not expected.
A place in the squad for the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday, October 19 is far more plausible with Merino then having nearly three weeks to fully recover and be involved in the clash at Vitality Stadium.