Arsenal were rocked by a serious injury to Mikel Merino in the first training session

Arsenal have been hit by a potentially serious injury to new signing Mikel Merino in his first training session.

The 28-year-old's arrival from Real Sociedad in a £30m deal was confirmed on Tuesday, bolstering Mikel Arteta's midfield options as the club allow Fabio Vieira to join Portuguese giants Porto on loan.

The Spaniard has been linked with the Gunners for a long time, playing for Spain during their Euro 2024 campaign earlier this summer, but will have to wait for his debut after manager Mikel Arteta revealed he suffered a suspected shoulder fracture after training. world conflict.

“It was very unfortunate,” Arteta said in his press conference on Friday. “Yesterday he had an accident and injured his shoulder, unfortunately. It looks like he will be out for a few weeks. [It was his] the first session.

“He was very happy and everything looked good. He came and fell on the floor with Gabi [Gabriel Magalhaes] fell on top of him and it looks like he's a little broken.”

On Merino's possible return, Arteta added: “We'll have to see. He was in pain. We'll have to do some tests on that and then we'll have some definitive answers.”

Arsenal's medical table already contains defensive duo Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu, as well as Gabriel Jesus, who is struggling with a groin injury.

Those concerns have not stopped Arsenal from making a strong start to the new Premier League season. Wolverhampton Wanderers' victory on the opening day of the season was followed by an impressive 2-0 win at Aston Villa, with second-half goals from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey.

The three-time Premier League winners sit third, behind Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion on goal difference, and face the latter in their final game before the first international break of the new season.

Arsenal have strengthened their squad by signing Merino, Ricardo Calafiori and goalkeeper David Raya on a permanent basis, and allowing Aaron Ramsdale to join newly promoted Southampton.

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