At a Glance:
Mikel Merino has been out since January.
Potential return on the cards before the end of the season
Should be available for Spain at the World Cup
It seems as if Arsenal’s injured players are slowly reintegrating back into the squad, with a couple of huge names still to come back—including midfielder Mikel Merino.
With the Gunners’ 2-1 loss to Manchester City, leaving away fans disappointed, especially considering their team gave it a good go, it is clear that the star players with a title-winning mentality that is essential to the final stretch of the season are either low on confidence or unavailable.
Bukayo Saka tops the list of players whose returns are most desired, but Mikel Merino is also another name that Arsenal fans will hope for a comeback of before the end of the year.
While the exact date is currently unknown, a rough timeframe has been given for when the Spaniard will be back, and it is one that should excite Arsenal fans.
Mikel Merino will be running again in two to three weeks after progress has been made following surgery
While it is not necessarily a return to playing a full 90 minutes for Arsenal, a recent update from Arsenal Radar on X has informed fans that Mikel Merino is making significant strides on his road to recovery.
🚨 EXCL: Mikel Merino is progressing well after surgery and was seen without crutches at Arsenal’s training ground. He’s expected to start running again in 2–3 weeks.
If recovery stays on track, he should be fit to join Spain national football team for their summer schedule… pic.twitter.com/AyUAXvYQ7j
— Arsenal Radar (@ArsenalRadar) April 21, 2026
While he might not be able to make a full comeback in time for the tail end of the season, if lucky he could theoretically appear in the final game of the season, given that his timeline expects a return to playing full-time at the end of May after undergoing foot surgery.
This is also a boost to Spanish national team fans ahead of the World Cup, given that Merino should be part of the quartet who represent both Arsenal and Spain, alongside David Raya, Christhian Mosquera and Martin Zubimendi.
Merino has played 33 games so far this season in all competitions, with six goals and three assists, but he has not donned the red of Arsenal since his side’s frustrating 3-2 loss to Manchester United back in January.
Another midfielder returning has meant that Merino’s absence is perhaps less felt, given that Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard started and impressed versus Manchester City, but Merino’s willing ability to convert to any position, as he did last season when both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz were injured, is dearly missed.
Other returns could also help Arsenal in title push
Both the returns of Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka will be greatly desired by fans of the Gunners, given that a tough game against Newcastle and a potential hazard against West Ham, who are fighting relegation, means that Arsenal need all the star power they can get.
Riccardo Calafiori is also another name that supporters would want to return, and the good news is that all three are not entirely out of the question to play in the must-win game against Newcastle this upcoming weekend.