Mikel Arteta offers Arsenal update after latest injury scare vs Everton

Mikel Arteta has calmed fears over an injury to Mikel Merino despite the star being left bloodied. The Spanish midfielder sustained a knock to the head during

And medical staff were forced to intervene to stop the bleeding but Gunners boss is not particularly concerned. Speaking after the full-time whistle, he said: “He’s [Merino] 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.”

Merino has played a pivotal role for Arsenal over recent weeks due to an ongoing attacking injury crisis. He has been playing as an emergency striker and has seven goals to his name this season.

And the news that he has not sustained a serious issue will be a big boost to Arsenal as they attempt to secure a runners-up spot in the . A clash with Spanish giants is also on the horizon next week.

One man who won’t be taking to the pitch for that game is Brazilian defender Gabriel, Giving his reaction to that blow ahead of the trip to Goodison, Arteta said: “It was a tough one to digest because we just got Bukayo [Saka] back and then we lost Gabi.

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“So it was tough, but the team reacted like it has reacted all season. I’m really proud of that and we know that he's going to be out for a while, so we need to find different solutions and keep competing the way we have been all season.

“We've come so far and now we have the most important, beautiful part of the season. We have to react to those things, and that means that other players are going to have opportunities to play and the team has to find other ways. It is a big miss undoubtedly, but we have the resources to cope with that.”

What team should Arsenal play vs Real Madrid?

Away from Gabriel, Arsenal also have a clutch of other players who will not be returning to the pitch until next season at the earliest. That includes forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, while defenders Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori are currently sidelined, albeit the Italian could return before the end of the campaign.

Arsenal are next back in action on Tuesday evening as they welcome Real Madrid to the Emirates Stadium before another home game against Brentford next weekend.

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