Mikel Merino has been beyond impressed with Mikel Arteta since joining Arsenal(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal star Mikel Merino left stunned by Mikel Arteta before Bournemouth after training change

Arsenal news as summer signing Mikel Merino left in awe of Mikel Arteta's training methods after just two months in north London

17 Oct 2024, 10:04 by Tom Coley · football.london

Mikel Merino has been left with nothing but admiration for Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal training so far. Having joined the club late on in the summer transfer window it has been a frustrating start to life back in England, but Merino is extremely impressed.

Following an unfortunate shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for the first two months of the season, Merino only made his debut in the week before the October international break, coming off the bench against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. He then had half an hour four days later at home to Southampton.

With Arteta balancing injury issues, suspension, and availability problems across his squad, the absence of Merino has been felt. Arsenal are still unbeaten as domestic action is set to return though, with Bournemouth set to play host on Saturday.

Merino will be expecting to continue his road to full match sharpness on the south coast. His chances of playing have been boosted by making two appearances for Spain during the fortnight away from club football.

It was playing for his country over the summer that caught the attention for many. Merino bagged an extra-time winner in the quarter-finals against Germany, arriving in the box to score a wonderful header.

He is now back in England after a spell at Newcastle earlier in his career. The 28-year-old hasn't seen anything like Arteta before though and has been left stunned but in awe of his new surroundings.

"[Nods] Very intense, much different [to Spain]," he said of the training under Arteta, speaking to the club's media team in a 'Colney Carpool' segment. "I don't think it's always different to Spain but I think it's different to everywhere else. The methodology they have here is unbelievable."

Merino previously spent time at Borussia Dortmund on loan from Newcastle as a youngster before making his name at Real Sociedad as an all-action player in the middle of the park. This is now the highest level he has played at though, and the Sobha Realty Training Complex has left him revelling so far.

"Not only on the pitch but also in the gym," Merino said of the things which have stood out. "I don't know. The hard work that they put in always, every member of the staff is always on top of us, making sure we have what we need to improve. Unbelievable."

As far as Arteta's individual coaching ploys go, the setup itself is relatively simple. Arsenal's boss has been known to try many things outside the box though, such as hiring professional pickpocketers and making his team hold a lightbulb before matches.

These are the quirks to Arteta which have made him one of the best. Merino will now be aiming to get himself high up in the manager's thinking, and with the state-of-the-art facilities plus innovative coaching plans, all the pieces are in place.

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