Arsenal's Mikel Merino has revealed he was on the brink of 'crying himself to extinction' after a fractured foot left him reliant on a mobility scooter. The 29-year-old midfielder has been sidelined since undergoing surgery following a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on January 25, but he is now back in training and has an outside chance of featuring in the Champions League final against Paris St Germain on June 6, as well as Spain's World Cup campaign.
A Long Road to Recovery
Merino, who scored six goals in 33 appearances before his injury, admitted the recovery process has been arduous, particularly as he watched his teammates secure Arsenal's first league title in 22 years. 'I was playing through the pain, but I wasn't expecting a big fracture,' he said. 'When I heard I'd be out for around five months, I could only think about missing the World Cup and the end of the season. I was devastated. It took me a couple of days to recover from that.'
He added: 'I had two options: cry myself to extinction or keep my head up and be positive. At first, I was scared. We didn't have examples of others with the same injury, so we didn't know what to expect or if I'd play again this season. The first couple of weeks were tough, but I tried to maintain the right mentality.'
Life on a Mobility Scooter
Merino described using a mobility scooter as 'a fun way to see the sun and enjoy time with the dog because I couldn't walk for two months. It was a hard time on crutches.' The injury forced him to watch Arsenal's title charge from the stands, which he found agonising. 'I'm very nervous watching the team,' he admitted. 'When things go wrong, I want to jump in and help. When they go well, I'm happy. It's been crazy, and I feel like one of the Arsenal supporters, suffering and enjoying every win.'
Return on the Horizon
Merino hopes to be fit for Arsenal's victory parade at Crystal Palace on Sunday. 'That's the goal,' he said. 'I'm with the team. Whenever the gaffer needs me, I'll be ready. My foot is great. I feel fit, and I am ready to go.'
