MIKEL ARTETA is hoping to finally unleash his caged animal this week.
Arsenal have been coping with a midfield injury crisis in the early weeks of this season after skipper Martin Odegaard’s ankle injury while on international duty last month.
But the real kick in the teeth was the blow for £32m summer arrival Mikel Merino – breaking a bone in his shoulder in his very first training session at London Colney in late August.
Signed from Real Sociedad with a reputation as one of Europe’s most feared duel monsters, the Spanish midfielder was sidelined after losing a collision with new teammate Gabriel.
As a result, the likes of Thomas Partey and Jorginho have been forced to carry the majority of the workload in an intense period that saw Arsenal travel to Tottenham and Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta will be without Merino for tonight’s Champions League clash with PSG, but he has been pictured back in full training and is targeting making the squad for Arsenal’s Prem outing at home to Southampton on Saturday.
Arteta said recently: “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.
“He really wants it. We are comfortable exposing him with contact and he looks really good in training.”
Despite his frustratingly ironic injury in an aerial battle with Gabriel, what Merino will bring primarily is a dominance both in the air and with ball at feet in the middle of the pitch.
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The 28-year-old won 326 duels last season – the most of any player in Europe’s top five leagues, with 168 of them coming in the air.
Standing at 6ft2, his usefulness at set-pieces in attack and defence and crosses would also have been key for Arteta when recruiting the player for his squad.
Those who watched Spain at the Euros this summer would have seen this first hand as Merino headed in an extra-time winner to knock out hosts Germany in the quarter-finals.
But Merino is not just midfield muscle. His technical ability and intelligence will also be on show. Arteta 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.”
Merino has already proven himself to be a sociable team member off the pitch, attending David Raya‘s birthday party alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus just weeks after his shoulder injury.
Merino is multi-faceted when it comes to the role he will play in Arteta’s midfield.
When needed, Merino can slot in at the defensive base of the three, allowing Odegaard and Declan Rice to play in more advanced positions.
But being left-footed, he can also play as a marauding eight – similar to Rice – so gives Arteta plenty of options for team selections and mid-game alterations.
It will also give Partey and Jorginho – both in their 30s and lacking the legs to play multiple 90-minute games in a week – the chance for a rest.
With everyone back fit, Arsenal’s bench will suddenly look incredibly healthy and full of depth and quality with Merino, Rice, Odegaard, Partey and Jorginho to choose from.
And let’s not forget the experience and knowledge Merino can pass on to Arsenal’s young stars, in particular 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri who is still finding his feet in the first team.
