Arsenal counting on £27m transfer as Mikel Arteta handed double setback

One of Arsenal's key summer signings is set to be given the chance to step up for a crucial period of the season as the club's injury woes mount. After a prolonged pursuit, winner Mikel Merino signed from Real Sociedad in late August for a £27million fee, only for his career in north London to suffer an immediate blow.

In his first training session Merino, 28, fractured his shoulder in an accidental collision with team-mate Gabriel Magalhaes.

The injury ruled him out for the whole of September, with the Spaniard finally making his debut as a substitute in the .

His bow came on Saturday in the 3-1 success over . Merino replaced skipper Jorginho on the hour mark with the score at 1-1, and duly helped his new side claim the three points to stay on the heels of leaders .

But now it seems Merino's first club start is imminent. Against the Saints, it was Thomas Partey who was named in midfield alongside the Italian and , but this week the 31-year-old has withdrawn from Ghana's squad ahead of their AFCON qualification double-header with Sudan.

Mercifully for Arteta, Partey is reportedly struggling with illness as opposed to injury, but a statement from the Ghana FA suggested the problem needed examining. "Thomas is unable to join the Black Stars due to medical issues he is currently experiencing, and his club has scheduled him for further tests in the coming days," they said.

Arteta could be forgiven for being concerned, given the fitness issues that have plagued Partey since his £45million move from Atletico Madrid in 2020. He made just 16 club appearances last season, after a long-term hamstring problem.

And club captain , who has been out of action since returning from the last international break on crutches, is seemingly still some way off being fit to return. According to , the Norwegian is still four weeks from even being able to participate in full training.

Arteta's primary target for the return of his key man was said to have been the clash with Liverpool on October 27, although he will not risk him unduly. It means Merino could now be thrown in to play a crucial role, with the game against the Reds following a Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk.

And it gets no easier from there, with a run of games in November that includes three successive away trips to , Inter Milan, and . But Arteta appears ready to test his new signing after praising his impact on debut against .

"He had only one session with us, but he was ready, he was really willing to be part of this today," he said. "And obviously with the injuries and changes we had to make, we believe that he was the player that could help us in that phase. I think he's done really well."