Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta provides injury update on Mikel Merino ahead of Leicester City clash
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Mikel Moreno's injury status ahead of their Premier League clash against Leicester City. He stated that the new signing was not yet ready to make his debut for the club but was back in partial training.
Speaking to the media ahead of the upcoming gameweek, Arteta was hopeful that Merino could be in contention by the next week. But he said the Leicester City clash on Saturday, September 28, came too early for the Spaniard. The Gunners manager said (via Arsenal's official website):
"Tomorrow is too soon. Next week we'll see. He had partial training today. He's been working so hard. It's looking good. It's about the healing of the bone and how mature that is to expose him to contact basically."
Arsenal could also be without goalkeeper David Raya, on whom the manager said:
"We have to wait 24 hours to see if he's looking good or not that good."
Jurrien Timber and Ben White are also training but remain doubtful for the Leicester clash.
Mikel Arteta provides more update on Arsenal star Mikel Moreno
Mikel Arteta talked about how Mikel Moreno is working hard as he nears his Arsenal debut. He added that the player felt ready but the physios and doctors wanted him to take his time.
He told the media:
"Yes we are trying to keep him in the cage, because he's been pushing everyone — the physios, the doctors, everybody — and he's ready to go, and he really wants it. I think we are comfortable now to start exposing him with contact, and he looked really good in training."
He added:
"He's going to bring first an unbelievable football brain. He's so intelligent, the way he decides, he occupies spaces, he makes decisions. It's very rare to see that. And he's a very talented player, in every phase — defending, attacking. He can do things that complement really well the quality we have in midfield. Physicality, for sure, and then he's a big threat. The moment that he's in the opponent's box, you'll see that he's a big, big threat."