In a crucial stretch of their season, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a contrasting injury outlook on two key players, delivering reassuring news on winger Bukayo Saka while confirming a “big blow” with midfielder Mikel Merino facing a significant spell on the sidelines.
The update came ahead of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea, where they hold a 3-2 aggregate lead.
Arteta confirmed that Saka, who was a late withdrawal from the starting lineup before Saturday’s 4-0 win at Leeds United due to a hip issue, is not suffering from a serious problem.
“We have to wait,” Arteta told reporters. “Today he was better but we have to wait and see how he responds and make a decision. It doesn’t look like something too serious, whether he is going to be available for tomorrow or the weekend [against Sunderland], we will see”.
However, the news was far more concerning for Merino. The Spanish midfielder has suffered a fractured foot and is set to undergo surgery, sidelining him for an extended period during the final four months of the campaign.
Arteta described the injury as “very rare” and stressed the need for caution in his recovery. “I know Mikel is going to do absolutely everything that he possibly can to come back as quick as possible. But, as well, you have to respect the healing process,” the manager stated.
While the club hopes for a return before season’s end, the timeline remains uncertain following the procedure.
The severity of Merino’s injury has prompted Arsenal to conduct late assessments of the transfer market ahead of the deadline.
Arteta confirmed that sporting director Andrea Berta is actively exploring options for a short-term replacement. “When you lose a big player like this in the squad with four months to go and all the competitions to play for, you need to look and we need to do everything that we possibly can,” Arteta said, while acknowledging the difficulty of finding a player who can adapt and impact the team immediately.
He added, “I wouldn’t say [I’m] relaxed. I think we are on it, and it’s our responsibility… to look at the market, every option, evaluate them and then make a decision”.
Should a late signing prove impossible, Arteta indicated he will turn to internal solutions. One option is to redeploy Myles Lewis-Skelly, the academy graduate who has broken into the team at left-back but is a midfielder by trade.
“Yes, Myles has the qualities to play in different positions. He has played as a full-back, as a six or as an attacking midfielder even. So yes, that is an option that we have,” Arteta confirmed.
Other possibilities include using the recently returned Kai Havertz in a deeper role or placing more creative responsibility on players like Eberechi Eze.
The injuries arrive as Arsenal compete on four fronts, sitting top of the Premier League and advancing in both domestic cups and the Champions League. The loss of Merino, noted for his versatility and experience, tests the squad depth that Arteta has carefully built.
The manager’s immediate focus, however, is navigating this setback while preparing his team for the decisive clash with Chelsea, hopeful that Saka’s quick return will offset part of the challenge posed by his teammate’s lengthy absence.