Arsenal fans have shared their thoughts on new signing Mikel Merino following his debut in the 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
Merino joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad during the summer transfer window on August 27, in a deal reportedly worth up to £31.6 million, including add-ons. However, before making his debut, the Spaniard suffered a freak injury in training when teammate Gabriel accidentally landed on him, injuring his shoulder.
After more than a month of recovery, Merino finally made his first appearance for Arsenal in their Champions League clash against PSG. He came on in the 64th minute, replacing Thomas Partey and partnering Declan Rice in midfield.
Despite the anticipation, fans were left unimpressed by Merino’s debut. Some took to social media platform X to express their disappointment, with one fan commenting, “Honestly, Merino looks the weakest in that midfield.” Another added, “Thomas Partey subbed off. Merino and Rice back at 6, and Arsenal has totally lost control of the game.”
One fan joked about the transfer, saying, “Yeah, Merino lol Sociedad sold us a lemon.”
However, not all fans were quick to judge. One supporter defended the midfielder, writing: “Already seeing morons on Twitter saying Merino is a waste of money… Less than 10 mins into his debut after barely touching a ball in a month.”
When fully fit, Merino is expected to play a crucial role in Arsenal’s season across all competitions. The 28-year-old was a key figure at Real Sociedad, making 242 appearances for the La Liga side.
Speaking about Merino when the signing was announced, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “Mikel brings us huge quality with his experience and versatility. He’s played at the top level for both club and country for several seasons now. His technical ability, along with his strong and positive personality, will make our squad significan
tly stronger.”
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