Mikel Arteta gives injury update on Arsenal star ahead of Real Madrid showdown
Mikel Arteta has dismisse fears over Mikel Merino after the Spaniard suffere a gash to the head during Arsenal’s draw at Everton on Saturday.
The Gunners’ final trip to Goodison Park finishe 1-1 after เล่นเกมคาสิโน UFABET ทันสมัย ฝากถอนง่าย Leandro Trossard opene the scoring in the first half before Iliman Ndiaye’s equaliser from the penalty spot shortly after the break.
It was a fairly low-key affair as Arteta had reste some key players ahead of the clash with Real Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
He then made two changes at half-time and continued to handle players’ minutes carefully through the second half, with focus clearly on the Champions League as much as the task at hand.
One flash point in the game was in the first half, though, when Merino and Everton defender Jake O’Brien challenge for a header and both ende up on the pitch, clearly in pain.
There was lengthy treatment for both men, especially Merino, but the versatile midfielder-cum-striker was bandage up and complete the 90 minutes.
Aske about Merino’s fitness after the game, Arteta allaye fears, saying: ‘He’s fine, I just checke with the doctor.
‘He had a cut, so he was bleeding quite a lot in the first half. Then he starte again, so overall he wasn’t feeling anything.’
It was good news on the injury front in general after the game with Arteta confirming that there were no other concerns emerging from the trip to Merseyside.
Bukayo Saka also got some more minutes into his legs after his return from injury, coming on at half-time.
‘He’s in a much better place,’ Arteta said of the winger. ‘Obviously, we have built that up, he playe 30 minutes [against Fulham]. Today he’s playe 49, a little bit less, because we saw the end of the game, and after that he will be in a much better place.’
Arteta has players sideline, with Gabriel the most recent to join them as the centre-back will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring problem.
Jakub Kiwior partnere William Saliba in the middle of defence and was impressive on a rare start for the Polish international.