Mikel Merino has emotionally opened up about his injury hell which involved him using a mobility scooter for two months to get around Arsenal's training ground.
Merino last featured for the Gunners in their 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United on January 25, in which he sustained a rare and serious stress fracture to his right foot that required surgery. The Spaniard returned to full training on Thursday and is now looking to make up for lost time.
'It was very hard to be honest,' said Merino. 'My feeling was I was playing through pain for a little bit but I wasn't expecting that a big fracture was going to happen there.'
'When I got the news and they said I was going to be out around five months, I could only think about missing the World Cup, missing the end of the season with my team and not being able to help them. I was devastated.'
'I had two options: to go down and cry myself to extinction or keep my head up, be positive and try to use my time to improve other aspects.'
'With the mobility scooter it's just trying to bring fun out of it, see the sun. I couldn't walk for two months. It's a hard time on crutches. The mobility scooter was a fun way to see the light of day and enjoy time with the dog.'
His team-mates spurring him on about potentially scoring in a Champions League final helped motivate Merino in the difficult period. The midfielder is in contention to make the squad for Arsenal's showdown with Paris Saint-Germain next Saturday in Budapest.
'I felt very loved. As an injured player also you have a role to go through with your team-mates,' he said. 'I tried to be close to them and found out they were very close to me as well. Every time they saw me they were asking me how I was doing, if I was better, telling me they were rooting for me and that I was going to get back soon enough to help them and score a header in the Champions League final.'
'Those conversations always give you a little extra motivation, make you feel included. I feel pleased and happy with the group we have.'
Merino also confirmed a return against Crystal Palace on Sunday is 'the goal', adding: 'I'm with the team. Whenever the gaffer needs, I'll be ready to do whatever he wants.'
