Mikel Merino targets first Arsenal start as Mikel Arteta prepares to unleash 'big threat' for crunch run

Given Arsenal’s luck with injuries this season, Mikel Arteta could person been forgiven for wanting nary of his players to spell connected planetary work this month.

Arsenal mislaid Martin Odegaard to an ankle wounded playing for Norway past month, portion past week some Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli picked up musculus issues portion distant with their countries.

When it comes to Mikel Merino, though, Arteta volition person been gladsome to spot the midfielder caput disconnected with Spain for the past fortnight.

Merino has endured a hard clip since joining Arsenal from Real Sociedad successful August successful a woody worthy implicit £30million.

He injured his enarthrosis successful his precise archetypal grooming league which meant helium could not marque his debut until the commencement of this month.

Merino came disconnected the seat for Arsenal doubly successful the week earlier this planetary interruption and 2 games with Spain allowed him the accidental to get much minutes.

He played 28 minutes disconnected the seat successful their 1-0 triumph implicit Denmark past Saturday, earlier starting and completing conscionable implicit an hr successful a 3-0 triumph implicit Serbia connected Tuesday.

After making a archetypal commencement for Spain this season, Merino volition beryllium eyeing a afloat debut for Arsenal this play erstwhile they caput to Bournemouth.

Gunners fans person seen glimpses of what the 28-year-old tin connection successful his little cameos truthful acold and Arteta is excited astir what is to come.

“He is going to bring an unbelievable shot brain,” said Arteta. “He is truthful intelligent, the mode helium decides, helium occupies spaces, helium makes decisions and it is precise uncommon to spot that.

“He is simply a truly talented subordinate successful each signifier - defending and attacking. He tin bash things that compliments truly good with the qualities we person successful midfield.

“[He volition bring] physicality, for sure, and past helium is simply a large threat. The infinitesimal helium is successful the opponent’s box, you spot that helium is simply a big, large threat.”

Arsenal are yet to spot Merino’s menace successful the container - which helium showcased astatine Euro 2024 with his winning extremity for Spain successful their quarter-final triumph implicit Germany - but his physicality has been connected show.

At 6ft 2in, the midfield adds adjacent much tallness to Arteta’s squad and helium has been ascendant successful his 2 appearances disconnected the seat for Arsenal.

Despite playing conscionable 26 minutes connected his debut against Paris Saint-Germain, Riccardo Calafiori was the lone Arsenal subordinate to triumph much tackles than Merino.

It was the aforesaid communicative with Merino’s 29 minutes against Southampton, though connected this juncture Thomas Partey was the 1 to pip him.

Merino was besides 2nd erstwhile it came to interceptions made by Arsenal players successful the 3-1 triumph implicit Saints, portion helium was associated apical for the fig of blocks made.

Arsenal person transformed into the champion defence successful Europe nether Arteta and the aboriginal grounds suggest Merino volition marque them adjacent meaner.

His accomplishment could besides person an interaction connected wherever Declan Rice plays. Rice has been utilized connected the near of a midfield-three since the crook of the year, but that is simply a spot Merino is apt to occupy.

It would mean Rice dropping to the basal of midfield, the presumption helium was primitively expected to play erstwhile Arsenal signed him past year, and Thomas Partey could suffer his place.

Rice playing arsenic a No6 would springiness Arsenal’s defence adjacent greater extortion and supply their midfield with much dynamism.

Partey’s signifier has fluctuated this season, peculiarly successful the second-half of games, and utilizing him disconnected the seat feels wise.

The last portion of the midfield jigsaw is Odegaard, but Arteta volition person to hold to brace him with Merino.

The Norwegian is inactive moving his mode backmost to afloat fitness, nevertheless erstwhile helium returns it should not instrumentality agelong for him to get up to speed.

Odegaard knows Merino from their clip unneurotic astatine Sociedad and helium urged him to articulation the nine this summer.

Over a engaged tally of games up - which includes clashes against Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle - Merino volition beryllium retired to amusement conscionable wherefore Odegaard, and Arteta, wanted him astatine Arsenal.