Mikel Merino has opened up on the devastating injury battle that left him using a mobility scooter as the Arsenal midfielder edges closer to a potential return for the Champions League final.
The Spanish international has been out of action since January after suffering a fractured foot during Arsenal’s dramatic 3-2 defeat against Manchester United.
After months on the sidelines, Merino is finally back in training and could still feature in Arsenal’s European showdown against Paris Saint-Germain next week.
There is also growing hope he could be available for Spain’s World Cup campaign later this summer.
The 29-year-old admitted the emotional impact of the injury was overwhelming, especially after learning he could miss the defining moments of the season.
“I was playing through the pain for a little bit, but I wasn’t expecting that a big fracture was going to happen,” he said.
“When I got the news that I was going to be out around five months, I could only think about missing the World Cup, missing the end of the season with my team and not being able to help them.
“I was devastated at the time. It took me a couple of days to recover from it.”
Merino revealed the recovery process became one of the toughest periods of his career, both mentally and physically.
“I had two options, cry myself to extinction or keep my head up, be positive and try to use my time to improve other aspects.
“At the beginning I was a little scared, I’m not going to lie. We didn’t have examples from other people who had the same injury. We didn’t know what to expect, what path to take during the recovery and if I was going to be able to play again (this season).”
Despite the uncertainty, the midfielder focused on staying mentally strong while slowly rebuilding his fitness.
“The first couple of weeks were tough. I tried to crack on with it, have the right mentality, be positive and with the right motivation to try to go forward. But it was very hard to be honest.”
One of the more unusual parts of Merino’s recovery involved relying on a mobility scooter after being unable to walk for two months.
“And the mobility scooter was a fun way to see the sun and enjoy time with the dog because I couldn’t walk for two months. It was a hard time on crutches.”
Now back on the training pitch, Merino is pushing to complete a remarkable comeback in time for Arsenal’s biggest game in more than two decades as the Gunners prepare for their Champions League final clash with PSG.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
