Versatile Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has been missing since late January when he suffered a stress fracture in his right foot against Manchester United
10:01, 21 Apr 2026
Mikel Merino
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Mikel Merino was pictured walking without crutches at Arsenal's training ground
Reports in Spain suggest Mikel Merino will be back running in the next 'two to three weeks' as he steps up his recovery from foot surgery.
The Arsenal midfielder, who has also starred as a makeshift centre-forward under Mikel Arteta, has been out of action since January 25 when he scored in the 3-2 Premier League home defeat to Manchester United.
Successful surgery then took place in February and in the build-up to Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, pictures emerged of Merino walking without crutches at Arsenal's London Colney training ground.
Those images fuelled speculation that he is close to a return but Spanish newspaper AS set the record straight on the 29-year-old's fitness and claimed he'll be able to run again in the next two to three weeks.
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That information suggests there is a chance Merino could return for Arsenal before the end of the season as he looks to help the Gunners in their pursuit of the Double.
The former Real Sociedad star has been targeting a return in time to feature for Spain at this summer's World Cup after playing a big role in their qualification campaign and Euro 2024 triumph in Germany two years ago.
Earlier this month on April 10, Arteta was quizzed on whether Merino could be back before the end of the season, to which he replied: "He's another one that is going to push every boundary.
"He's out of his boot now, he's doing quite a lot of exercises already. He's reacted really well to the surgery; he's got no pain.
Mikel Merino
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Mikel Merino was on the Wembley pitch with his Arsenal team-mates before the Carabao Cup final(Image: (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))
"It's more for the medical staff to go a bit further on that but I'm sure there is a chance to make that period shorter. If there is a person that can do it, I'm sure that's going to be Mikel."
On March 22 when Arsenal lost the Carabao Cup final to City at Wembley, Merino was pictured walking on the pitch pre-match with just one crutch, which again suggested he is progressing at a promising rate.
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Since then, he has cleared further steps in his rehab and is pushing to return as quickly as possible, though Arsenal medical staff will be reluctant to rush him back as all parties will be keen to avoid any setbacks.
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