Arsenal is enjoying a timely boost just hours ahead of their Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium, with the return of Mikel Merino stealing the spotlight. The 28-year-old midfielder joined the club for £31.6 million late in the summer transfer window but faced an unfortunate setback when he fractured his shoulder in his very first training session. Initially expected to be out for about two months, Merino’s debut under Mikel Arteta was put on hold.
In a surprising turn, after just a month of recovery, Merino returned to training on Monday, coinciding with Arsenal’s preparations for PSG. However, it remains uncertain when Arteta will decide to give him his first minutes in an Arsenal shirt, as the club is cautious about rushing him back too soon.
During the pre-match press conference on Monday, Arteta refrained from providing updates on Merino’s status, instead focusing on defenders Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori. White missed training that day, while Calafiori, who had raised concerns regarding a knee injury sustained against Leicester City, was seen participating with the team.
“We have to review a few players. Overall, in terms of returning players, nothing to give back,” Arteta stated.
The Gunners have also been without their captain, Martin Odegaard, who is grappling with a serious ankle injury acquired during international duty with Norway. Despite these setbacks, Arsenal has demonstrated impressive form in domestic play, as evidenced by a pivotal 4-2 win over Leicester City. This victory was particularly significant following Manchester City’s stumble against Newcastle United, keeping Arsenal in close pursuit of Premier League leaders Liverpool, who recently triumphed 2-1 over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
As fans gear up for tonight’s thrilling lineup, they can look forward to an array of exciting matches, including Barcelona vs. Young Boys, Bratislava vs. Manchester City, Salzburg vs. Brest, Stuttgart vs. Sparta, and of course, Arsenal vs. PSG, alongside Leverkusen vs. AC Milan, Dortmund vs. Celtic, Inter vs. Zvezda, and PSV vs. Sporting.
