Message from the Arsenal pillar’s hospital bed

Mikel Merino delivers a hopeful message to Arsenal supporters following surgery for a fractured foot, expressing his resolve to get back on the field promptly and keep supporting the London team.

Midfielder Mikel Merino has shared a very positive message with Arsenal fans after his surgery for a broken foot injury. Although he will have to be sidelined for a while, the Spanish star remains optimistic and determined to make a swift comeback to continue his contributions to the London club.

Merino sustained the injury during Arsenal’s dramatic 2-3 loss to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League. After the match, Coach Mikel Arteta acknowledged that this is a rare case requiring careful monitoring. “It’s a very uncommon injury. We have to wait for the surgery to be completed before we can accurately assess the recovery progress day by day. Mikel will do everything possible to return soon, but the club must also respect the healing process,”Arteta stated.

After the surgery was completed, Merino posted a photo from his hospital bed along with a message to fans on social media. “Surgery is done! I’ve taken another step toward returning to the pitch. Thank you all for the encouragement and support. It gives me a lot of energy to face this challenge. Vamos!”, the Spanish midfielder shared.

In the 2025/26 season, Merino has been a key figure for Arsenal. He has scored 6 goals across all competitions and plays a crucial role in Arteta’s tactical setup thanks to his ability to contest possession, control the tempo, and support attacks effectively. His absence will certainly impact Arsenal significantly during this busy fixture period.

According to the schedule, the “Gunners” will soon return to Premier League action against Brentford, before facing Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round. In this context, Coach Arteta must reconsider his squad options and hopes Merino can recover in time to participate in the rest of the season. With the player’s optimistic spirit, Arsenal fans have good reason to look forward to his comeback.