October 28th 2024.
On Sunday, Mikel Merino of Arsenal scored his first goal against Liverpool. Despite recent injury troubles, Merino firmly believes that it is not an excuse for the team's recent drop in points. In fact, he sees it as an opportunity for other players to step up and showcase their talents.
Currently sitting at third place in the Premier League table, Arsenal's start to the season has not been disastrous. However, they have only managed to win five out of their nine matches so far, with a draw against Liverpool following a surprising defeat to Bournemouth. This has put them five points behind league leaders Manchester City.
As a summer signing from Real Sociedad, Merino is determined to help his team stay focused on their goal of success and not let injuries derail them. Despite selection headaches for manager Mikel Arteta with players like Martin Odegaard, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jurrien Timber, Merino insists that they cannot use these injuries as an excuse.
He states, "The message is simple - this team will not lose focus or give up, no matter the situation or time of year. We are always aiming to give 100% and learn from every game. Our focus is solely on ourselves and what we can do to win each and every match. We don't look beyond our team, and even with a result like this, we don't look too far ahead. Our mentality is what will bring us success in the future."
One of the benefits of injuries, according to Merino, is that it gives young players the opportunity to make their debuts and contribute to the team. As a club, Arsenal prides itself on developing young talent from their academy and giving them a chance on the big stage. This is evident in the fact that even without key players like Martin Odegaard, the team is still able to perform at a high level.
Unfortunately, during the game against Liverpool, both Gabriel and Jurrien Timber sustained injuries. Arteta provided an update on their conditions after the match.
When asked about Gabriel's injury, Arteta said, "I don't know for sure, but he couldn't run. That's what he told me straight away. I'm not sure if it's his knee or ankle."
On Timber, he added, "We did everything we could to speed up his recovery, and he was eager to play. Our medical staff did an amazing job, and we gave ourselves a chance to compete. We don't know the extent of his injury, same with Gabriel."
Despite these setbacks, Arsenal remains determined to push through and continue their journey towards success. As Merino said, "Injuries are a part of the game, and they cannot be used as an excuse for results. We have a strong mentality as a team, and we have the ability to adapt and overcome any obstacles that come our way."
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