“I cried so hard when I discovered the extent of His injury. He is the type of player that is not supposed to miss any game with us, and now He is going to be out for long,” Zinchenko broke down in tears during press conference today as another Arsenal key player is confirmed injured and set to be out for two months.

Mikel Merino’s highly anticipated Arsenal debut has been delayed due to injury, and it now seems he could be sidelined for an extended period. The midfielder was set to play against Brighton, but an unfortunate incident during training has forced him to miss that opportunity.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta explained in a press conference ahead of the Brighton match that Merino had sustained a shoulder injury, possibly involving a minor fracture, during his very first training session with the team. The injury occurred when Merino fell awkwardly, and teammate Gabriel accidentally landed on top of him. It was an especially frustrating way for the new signing to get hurt, given the excitement surrounding his arrival.

Initially, it was believed that Merino would be out for just a few weeks, but a recent report from the *Daily Mail* suggests that his absence could last much longer. According to journalist Sami Mokbel, Merino is now expected to be sidelined until mid-October “at the earliest,” which means his return to the pitch might not happen for several more weeks.

The hope is that Merino will be fit to rejoin the team after the October international break. Arsenal’s first game following that break will be an away fixture against Bournemouth, and there is optimism that Merino might be able to participate in that match.

While the injury is undoubtedly a setback, one silver lining is that Merino will not be called up for Spain’s national team during the upcoming international breaks. This will allow him to stay at Arsenal’s Sobha Realty Training Centre and focus on his recovery, avoiding the risks of further aggravating his injury by playing internationally.

Despite this bit of positive news, Merino’s injury is still a significant blow for Arsenal, especially given the club’s demanding schedule over the next few months. After the Bournemouth game, Arsenal will face Shakhtar Donetsk in the revamped Champions League, followed by a crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta will be eager to have Merino back in action as soon as possible, as the team will need all hands on deck to navigate through this busy period. Arsenal fans will be hoping the midfielder’s recovery goes smoothly and that he can contribute to the team during the important matches ahead.