Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has successfully undergone surgery after suffering a serious fracture in his right foot.
Merino confirmed the news on February 9, 2026, sharing a positive message from his hospital bed on Instagram:
“Surgery done! Already closer to be back! Thanks for the positive energy.”
The injury happened during Arsenal’s 3–2 defeat to Manchester United on January 25, 2026. Medical checks later revealed a rare stress fracture in his right foot, ruling him out for the short term.
The current expectation is that Merino will be sidelined for three to four months, with Arsenal hopeful he can return to first-team training by May for the final stretch of the season and preparation ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared the update on their X handle, noting the strong support Merino has received from teammates. One of the standout gestures came from Martin Zubimendi, who dedicated a recent goal celebration to his injured teammate.
Mikel Merino underwent surgery today following his serious foot injury. “Already closer to be back! Thanks for the positive energy”.
Before the setback, Merino had been in brilliant form for both club and country. For Spain, he hit a purple patch, scoring six goals in six games in the 2025/26 cycle, including a first-ever senior hat-trick in a 6–0 win over Turkey national team.
At Arsenal, Mikel Arteta had leaned on him as a reliable all-round presence in midfield, with Merino contributing 8 goals and 3 assists across competitions before getting injured.
According to Softfootball, Merino has stayed close to the squad despite being sidelined, offering encouragement in the dressing room and stressing the positives after tough results earlier in the season.
His message from hospital summed up the mood: setback or not, he’s already focused on the comeback.
