Mikel Merino has quickly become an important part of Arsenal since joining from Real Sociedad in August 2024. Mikel Arteta trusted him early. And Merino delivered. He gave the team balance in midfield. He also stepped up in attack when needed.
The 29 year old has been used in more than one role this season. His natural position is midfield. But he has also played as a striker. That flexibility helped Arsenal stay competitive during their title push.
Arsenal have confirmed that Merino has broken his foot. The injury is serious. He will need surgery. That means he is expected to miss a large part of the rest of the 2025/26 season.
Merino has already spoken about the setback. He said he cannot wait to return. He made it clear he wants to help the team again as soon as possible. Still, this will not be a quick comeback.
The club has not given an exact return date. Arsenal have only said he will be out for an extended period. The current hope is that he can return to training sometime in late April or early May. If that happens, he could feature in the final weeks of the season.
Arsenal’s last league match is against Crystal Palace on May 24. The FA Cup final is scheduled for May 16 if they make it that far. The Champions League final will be played on May 30 in Budapest. Arsenal are already through to the Round of 16 and will find out their next opponent on February 27.
The injury happened during Arsenal’s 3 2 home loss to Manchester United on January 25. Merino came on as a substitute in the second half. He scored an equaliser late in the game from a corner. Despite finishing the match, the damage was already done. He did not feature in the following game against Leeds.
Merino has played 33 games across all competitions this season. He has not been a regular starter in the Premier League. But his value goes beyond the starting lineup. He fills gaps. He adapts. He solves problems.
When Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz were injured, Merino stepped in as a striker. He started 12 matches in that role last season. Nearly half of his league minutes since then have come up front. That says a lot about how much Arteta trusts him.
He has scored 6 goals and provided 3 assists this season. Only a few Arsenal players have better numbers. That attacking threat will be missed. Havertz returning to fitness helps. But it does not replace everything Merino offers.
The bigger concern is midfield depth. Merino was the main backup for Odegaard, Zubimendi and Declan Rice. Christian Norgaard was signed for cover in the summer. But he has barely played. Just 21 league minutes so far.
With the transfer window closing on February 2, Arsenal have little time to react. If they want cover, they will need to move fast. Otherwise, they will have to push through the rest of the season without one of their most reliable options.