Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has green light to unleash ideal Declan Rice partner vs Bournemouth

The latest Arsenal news and opinion as the summer signing is yet to start a game for the Gunners since recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in training

Mikel Arteta could turn to summer signing Mikel Merino this weekend with several injury doubts pointing to a potential first start of the season. The 28-year-old arrived from Real Sociedad in the summer transfer window but is yet to start a game for the club.

Merino’s start to the season was disrupted after he suffered a shoulder injury in one of his first training sessions with the club. He made his comeback as a second-half substitute against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at the start of the month.

He made his Premier League bow four days later, playing almost half an hour of the 3-1 win over Southampton after coming off the bench. Merino has continued to build up his game time during the international break.

The midfielder has been in action for Spain in the Nations League. He came off the bench to play 28 minutes in the 1-0 win over Denmark on Saturday, he was then named in the starting line-up for Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Serbia where he played 65 minutes.

He will now return to Arsenal in preparation for Saturday’s Premier League game against Bournemouth (5.30pm kick-off). Ahead of the match, Arteta has a few injury worries with Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey withdrawing from international duty.

While it’s hopeful that at least some could make a comeback in time for the game, Arteta may still turn to Merino instead of taking a chance. Martin Odegaard is one player who will definitely be out, with Partey potentially covering at right-back and him himself being an injury doubt, there is a space available next to Declan Rice.

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That is sometimes filled with Havertz, who could move from striker to his more natural midfield role. That would mean Gabriel Jesus starting up top.

However, the injury doubts over the German international means that playing Merino may be the most sensible option. The fact that the Spanish international was able to start and last over an hour for Spain this week means that he should now have proven his fitness to be named in the Arsenal starting XI.

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