Mikel Merino gives three-word Arsenal injury response amid worrying update

Mikel Merino admits he is unsure when he is due to return from a shoulder injury sustained in his first Arsenal training session.

The £31.6million summer signing is expected to be out for “weeks”, according to Mikel Arteta, who now has a midfield headache. Declan Rice’s red card in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion means both he and likely Merino will miss the North London Derby after the international break.

Sporting a right-arm shoulder brace, Merino watched on from the stands as Brighton’s Joao Pedro cancelled out Kai Havertz’s first-half goal. His manager said the Spaniard was in “so much pain” after suffering the injury earlier this week.

Arteta explained: “He was really excited and everything was looking really good. He landed on the floor and Gabi [Magalhaes] landed on top of him and it looks like he has a small fracture probably.

“We have to see [how long he will be out]. He was in so much pain. We’ll have to do some more tests on that and then we’ll have more conclusive answers.”

After full-time against Brighton, journalists in the mixed zone of The Emirates Stadium asked Merino how long he himself expected to be sidelined for. Unable to give a concrete answer, the playmaker replied: “I don’t know”.

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Thomas Partey started in midfield against Brighton, having netted against Aston Villa in last week’s 2-0 win at Villa Park. He is expected to start away at Tottenham in a fortnight.

The Gunners may also turn to Jorginho, who was on the bench on Saturday having yet to play a minute so far this campaign.

Havertz is able to play as an attacking midfielder, although it is unclear whether Arteta would wish to move him from the centre-forward role he has occupied in all three matches so far this season, having registered two goals and an assist.