Arsenal: key player set for surgery

Europe 08 February 2026 at 05:11

Aliou Toundé

News Editor

Arsenal will be without Mikel Merino for several weeks. The 29-year-old Spanish midfielder is suffering from a stress fracture in his foot and is scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday, according to COPE.

Merino has missed the Gunners’ last three matches, including two in the Premier League. "It’s a big loss for us," manager Mikel Arteta stated. "Mikel is very versatile. This type of injury is rare. We know he’ll do everything to come back quickly, but we have to respect the recovery period."

After the operation, a rehabilitation period of around four months is expected. Merino’s 2025/26 season appears to be all but over, and his participation in the upcoming World Cup remains in doubt. This season, he has featured in 33 matches, scoring 6 goals and providing 3 assists for Arsenal.