Mikel Merino has said that Arsenal should not use their injury list as an excuse for the title race and urged that they must never give up on the title race.
Every match in the high-stakes English football world is important. The rivalry is Arsenal vs Liverpool, a rich as old as they come and a battle between two clubs away from trophy status at present. Fans were glued to watching this clash, with it leaving us wanting to know where this team went wrong and what injuries had on the team, especially because of the outcome.
Arsenal’s match with Liverpool ended 1-1. It was a point gained, rather than none, but it reduced the Gunners to two points behind Manchester City who lead the league. Against the scoreline, though, there were worries about some key players. Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber were taken off the field with injuries. Gabriel, in particular, shared a glimpse of his knee wrapped in a protective sleeve on Instagram, accompanied by a message of resilience: “In everything give thanks. We keep fighting together.”
“The focus is to go 100% and learn from every game. We focus only on ourselves and what we can do to win every single game. We don’t look outside the team – in spite of this result, we don’t look too far ahead, we focus on the present. This is our mentality and it’s what will bring us success in the future. Mikel Merino said.
There was more injury woes. Summer signing Riccardo Calafiori was also ruled out with a knee problem. Martin Ødegaard, the club captain, had yet to return from his layoff, and neither had And. Even so, the midfielder, Ander Merino, managed to stay steady. Regardless of the situation or time, Arsenal’s focus wasn’t going to waver, he insisted. Their mentality was clear: I learned from every game, I stayed in the present and I gave my all.
Mikel Merino demands more
Arsenal have a crucial EFL Cup clash with Preston to come the day before their Premier League match with Newcastle. It seems that without key players there are both challenges and opportunities. Injuries mess up the starting lineup, but that means young talents can step up.
It provides the academy players the chance to test themselves, get their debuts and prove their worth. Merino was having a go, saying injuries were ‘no excuse’ for poor results. Instead of being a catalyst for growth and adaptation, if so, they should be.
But for now, the Arsenal camp is resilient. This spirit is personified by Mikel Merino. During the same game, he picked up a knock (though he saw it out, eventually scoring in his first Premier League start at the Emirates Stadium), and then during the Wolves game he left the field with what looked like another knock. He’s a great example of the level of commitment the team has.
Arsenal fixtures
But Arsenal have relied on winning from set pieces as always. These things take work and they try to work until they get it right, even when the first try isn’t. This focus is shown by Merino’s recent header goal for Spain in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.
In short, Arsenal are not out of the woods by any means, but they haven’t cracked yet. The Gunners have a challenging schedule ahead, and each match carries immense significance:
- Newcastle United vs. Arsenal (November 2, 2024):
- Arsenal head to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle United. It is always testing away games, and this trip could define the side’s November.
- Chelsea vs. Arsenal (November 9, 2024):
- Arsenal head to Stamford Bridge for its next London derby, against Chelsea. The battles over pride are more than anything else, and these clashes are more than just football.
For more football updates, make sure to follow us on:
