Arsenal fans recently shared their opinions on new signing Mikel Merino following his debut in the team’s 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain. Merino, who joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad on August 27 for a fee potentially reaching £31.6 million with add-ons, had been eagerly anticipated by fans.
However, before making his first appearance, he suffered an unusual training injury when teammate Gabriel accidentally fell on him, injuring his shoulder, which delayed his debut.
Over a month later, Merino finally took to the pitch in Arsenal’s Champions League match against PSG, coming on in the 64th minute to replace Thomas Partey and partner Declan Rice in midfield. Despite the excitement surrounding his first appearance, fans were largely unimpressed with his performance, noting that he struggled to find his rhythm.
On social media platform X, some supporters voiced their concerns. One fan remarked, “Honestly, Merino seems to be the weakest link in that midfield.” Another commented, “With Partey off and Merino alongside Rice, Arsenal completely lost control of the game.” One fan even joked, “Yeah Merino lol, Sociedad sold us a lemon.”
However, not all reactions were negative. Some fans were quick to defend Merino, pointing out that it was too early to judge his abilities. One fan countered the criticism, saying, “Seeing people on Twitter say Merino is a waste of money… Less than 10 minutes into his debut, and he hasn’t played in a month.”
Merino is expected to play an important role for Arsenal this season once he regains full fitness. He made 242 appearances for Real Sociedad, where he developed a strong reputation for his skills and versatility. Upon signing Merino, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his confidence in the player, stating, “Mikel is a player who will bring us immense quality through his experience and versatility.
He has competed at the highest levels both at club and international stages for several seasons. Mikel will enhance our squad significantly with his technical skills and his strong, positive character.”
Despite his slow start, Arsenal supporters will be hoping Merino lives up to the expectations placed on him as he settles into the team.
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