Mikel Merino Absent from Real Sociedad Matchday Squad

Mikel Merino was left out of the matchday squad for Real Sociedad‘s opening La Liga fixture, sparking fresh talk about a potential transfer to Arsenal.

Despite the rumors swirling around his future, Real Sociedad’s coach Imanol Alguacil reassured fans that Merino remains committed to the club. He stated, ‘Both are there, one is not on the list and the other is in the squad. They still belong to Real and both are going to be with the team to the death.’

Arsenal has been working to boost their squad this summer, already bringing in players like Riccardo Calafiori and David Raya. Mikel Merino, who has a year left on his contract, has been a key target. However, he hasn’t played during pre-season as he was part of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning team.

Merino’s absence was noted in the match against Rayo Vallecano, where another former Gunners target, Martin Zubimendi, was only on the bench. This situation has left fans curious about Arsenal’s plans moving forward.

When asked about the situation earlier this week, Alguacil didn’t reveal much, sticking to his earlier comment about the importance of focusing on the players currently with the squad.