Mikel Arteta addresses Mikel Merino injury concern ahead of Arsenal vs Real Madrid | Football

Mikel Arteta has dismissed fears over Mikel Merino after the Spaniard suffered a gash to the head during Arsenal’s draw at Everton on Saturday.

The Gunners’ final trip to Goodison Park finished 1-1 after Leandro Trossard opened 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 rested 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 ended up on the pitch, clearly in pain.

There was lengthy treatment for both men, especially Merino, but the versatile midfielder-cum-striker was bandaged up and completed the 90 minutes.

Asked about Merino’s fitness after the game, Arteta allayed fears, saying: ‘He’s fine, I just checked with the doctor.

‘He had a cut, so he was bleeding quite a lot in the first half. Then he started 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 played 30 minutes [against Fulham]. Today he’s played 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 sidelined, 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 partnered William Saliba in the middle of defence and was impressive on a rare start for the Polish international.

‘There were four players that couldn’t start the game after what happened with Fulham, and obviously the injury of Gabi, so that forces you as well to make some changes,’ said Arteta.

‘Players deserve to play minutes, so I’m very happy with that. Everybody has to be important, has to feel important. They have so many games coming up right now, and we have to rely on all of them.’

On who will be at centre-back against Real Madrid he added: ‘We have alternatives there. Today, we have players that haven’t played together, so that cohesion hasn’t been there.

‘Ben [White] especially hasn’t played at all almost this season, so it’s good that they have the minutes and that understanding. We will assess what are the best options for that back line.’

Arsenal will be without Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and the long-term absentees Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu on Tuesday against Real Madrid, although Jurrien Timber proved his fitness by coming off the bench against Everton.

On the prospect of welcoming the Spanish giants to north London, Arteta said: ‘It’s one of the most beautiful games that you can play in football, in the highest European competition, against the team that has dominated that competition in the last 20, 25 years. So, yeah, really looking forward to it.’

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