When Arsenal’s team was announced for their game at Elland Road in the Premier League, Mikel Merino’s name was missing from the teamsheet and it looks like he is set for a spell on the sidelines, as does Bukayo Saka who was injured in the warmup.
With Mikel Arteta making nine changes to the side that had beaten Kairat Almaty during the week, many assumed that it was simply Mikel Merino‘s turn to get a day off when he wasn’t included in the squad for the game against Leeds.
However, speaking to the media ahead of the game, Arteta confirmed that it wasn’t just a case of resting Merino, rather the player has a problem with his foot.
Arteta said that it has been causing the midfielder pain and they will be consulting with a specialist to determine how long he will be out for.
Until this problem, Merino had been one of only three players for Arsenal not to miss a game through injury. The other two are David Raya and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
As for Saka, he was named in the starting lineup but pulled up in the warm up with what is believed to be a left hip problem. He was replaced in the first XI by Noni Madueke.
Christian Norgaard, who was not in the squad but travelled as the extra man, took Madueke’s place on the bench.
With Martin Odegaard also on the bench, Gabriel took the captain’s armband from Saka.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz, Madueke, Trossard, Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, White, Calafiori, Mosquera, Odegaard, Eze, Norgaard, Martinelli, Jesus.