Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has revealed that the dream of playing in the Champions League final helped him through a nightmare injury that left him reliant on a mobility scooter. The 29-year-old has been sidelined since fracturing his foot in Arsenal's 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on January 25, an injury that required surgery and threatened to end his season.
Merino admitted he was devastated when told he would be out for around five months, fearing he would miss the World Cup and the end of the season with his team. 'I had two options, cry myself to extinction or keep my head up, be positive and try to use my time to improve other aspects,' he said. The Spain international spent two months on crutches and used a mobility scooter to get around, describing it as 'a fun way to see the sun and enjoy time with the dog.'
Now back in training, Merino has an outside chance of featuring in Arsenal's Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on June 10, as well as Spain's World Cup campaign. 'That's the goal. I'm with the team. Whenever the gaffer needs, I'll be ready to do whatever he wants. My foot is great. I feel fit, and I am ready to go,' he said.
Merino, who scored six times in 33 appearances before his injury, admitted it has been tough watching his teammates from the stands as they secured Arsenal's first league title in 22 years. 'It's been a crazy, crazy couple of months where I had to help the team in a different role. I feel like one of the Arsenal supporters, suffering big time and enjoying every single second when we win,' he added.
