Merino's surgery needed to hope for World Cup

The Spain international suffers from a stress fracture in his foot, a problem that has forced him to miss his team's last three matches. The midfielder faces a spell on the sidelines until the end of the season.

Although Arsenal has not set a timeline for his recovery, he expects to return to training by the end of April, hoping to assist the London club in the final weeks of the campaign. Crucially, his primary goal remains securing a spot for Spain at the World Cup, where, if fit, he would be a vital component in Luis de la Fuente's tactical setup.

Mikel Merino attended Saturday's match at the Emirates Stadium, witnessing his side's 3-0 victory over Sunderland. The Basque player received a touching tribute from his teammate and friend, Martin Zubimendi, who celebrated the opening goal by running around the corner flag, a gesture Merino himself often performs.