Arsenal FC Announces Mikel Merino's Foot Surgery, Amid Concerns for Bukayo Saka's Injury
Arsenal has confirmed that Mikel Merino will undergo surgery on a bone injury in his right foot, which will keep him sidelined for a significant portion of the season. The injury occurred during the team's 3-2 loss to Manchester United last week, causing him to miss subsequent matches against Kairat in the Champions League and Leeds in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta, speaking to reporters before Arsenal's 4-0 victory at Elland Road, revealed that Merino's injury required specialized medical attention. The decision to operate was made, and the midfielder will be out of action for the foreseeable future.
A club statement provided further details: 'Following a foot injury sustained during our match against Manchester United on January 25, further assessments and specialist reviews have confirmed Mikel Merino has a bone injury in his right foot. Mikel will undergo surgery in the coming days and then commence his recovery and rehabilitation program. Mikel is expected to be out of action for an extended period, with the aim of returning to full training before the end of the season. Everyone is fully focused on supporting Mikel to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.'
With limited time before the transfer deadline on Monday at 7 p.m., Arsenal is now exploring the transfer market for potential loan cover. The team also faced an injury setback with Bukayo Saka, who had to be replaced during the warm-up against Leeds and was subsequently absent from the match. Arteta confirmed that the severity of Saka's injury is still unknown, leaving the team in a state of uncertainty regarding their squad's availability.
