“He will START against Bournemouth,” saysArsenal, – Following player’s quick recovery from injury and recent confirmation of match fit, Boss Mikel Arteta is prepared to unleash “big threat” against Bournemouth this weekend.In particular, – Not Martinelli and Not Saka instead.

Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta is ready to unleash “big threat” against Bournemouth this weekend following player’s fast recovery from injury and

being confirmed match fit.- Not Martinelli and Not Saka insteadMikel Merino aims first Arsenal start as Mikel Arteta gets ready to unleash “big threat” for crunch run Spain midfielder striving to make full debut and support Gunners ahead of some important games. Given Arsenal’s injury history this season, Mikel Arteta could have been excused for wanting none of his players to go on international service this month. While last week Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli had muscular problems away with their respective countries, Arsenal lost Martin Odegaard to an ankle injury playing for Norway last month. Regarding Mikel Merino, though, Arteta will have been happy to see the midfielder head out with Spain over the past two weeks. Since signing a contract worth more than £30million from Real Sociedad in August, Merino has had a challenging journey. His shoulder suffered in his first training session, hence he couldn make his debut only at the beginning of this month. Twice in the week before this international break, Merino came off the bench for Arsenal; two games with Spain gave him extra minutes. Before starting and finishing little over an hour in their 3-0 triumph over Serbia on Tuesday, he played 28 minutes off the bench in their 1-0 win over Denmark last Saturday. Merino will be aiming for a complete Arsenal debut this weekend as they travel to Bournemouth following a first start for Spain this season. Arteta is thrilled with what the 28-year-old has to give in his infrequent cameos; gunners’ fans have seen glimpses of it before. Arteta added, “He is going to bring an unbelievable football brain.” “He is very bright, the way he decides, occupies spaces, makes decisions and it is rather rare to see that.In every phase, he is a quite gifted defensive and attacking player. “[He will offer] physicality, for sure, and then he is a big threat. He can do stuff that compliments truly well with the attributes we have in midfield. He is a major, major menace the moment he finds himself in the opponent’s box. Merino’s threat in the box, as he shown during Euro 2024 with his winning goal for Spain in their quarter-final triumph over Germany, is yet unknown for Arsenal; but, his physicality has been on display. Arteta’s squad gains even more height from the middle at 6ft 2in, and he has been rather successful in his two off-bench games for Arsenal. Riccardo Calafiori was the only Arsenal player to surpass Merino in terms of tackles, even though he only played 26 minutes on his debut against Paris Saint- Germain. The narrative was the same with Merino’s 29 minutes against Southampton, but on this occasion Thomas Partey piped him. Merino was joint first for the number of blocks made, but second in terms of interceptions made by Arsenal players in the 3-1 triumph over Saints. Under Arteta, Arsenal has become the top defense in Europe; early data point to Merino making them even more meaner. His arrival might possibly affect Declan Rice’s performance location. From the turn of the year, rice has been used on the left of a midfield-three; Merino is probably going to take that position. Rice would be sliding to the base of midfield, the position he was originally supposed to occupy when Arsenal signed him last year, and Thomas Partey might lose his place. Playing rice as a No. 6 would provide Arsenal’s midfield more dynamism and offer even more cover for their defence. Partey’s form has changed this season, especially in the second half of games; utilizing him off the bench seems sensible. Odegaard completes the last piece of the midfield puzzle, although Arteta will have to wait to team him with Merino. Though he is currently working his way back to full health, the Norwegian should not have trouble catching up. From their time together at Sociedad, Odegaard knew Merino and persuaded him to join the club this summer. Merino will be keen to demonstrate just why Odegaard, and Arteta, wanted him at Arsenal over a packed run of games ahead including matches against Chelsea, Liverpool, and Newcastle.