Arsenal drop early Mikel Merino team news hint for Southampton clash

Latest Arsenal news with Mikel Merino in contention to start the Premier League clash against Southampton

Mikel Merino will be hoping to make his first start for Arsenal this weekend against Southampton after being handed his debut earlier in the week. A shoulder injury has kept him out of action for the last four weeks, though he returned to training in late September and subsequently appeared off the bench in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain.

The Spain international put in a bright 26-minute cameo and has thus put himself in contention to start against the Saints this afternoon. Injury issues elsewhere could also help his case with Martin Odegaard absent while Jurrien Timber and Ben White are both major doubts for the clash.

"We had to modify training for a lot of players," Mikel Arteta said when asked for the latest on White and Timber amid their training absence. "It was the same today because of the load that they had. There will be a decision to make this afternoon whether to involve them, yes or no. They [White and Timber] are close."

In the absence of White, Timber has switched flanks with Riccardo Calafiori coming in at left-back as a result. As such, it is unclear who Arteta will deploy on the right of defence especially with Takehiro Tomiyasu only just returning to training following a two-month injury absence.

Another option would see Thomas Partey going out to right-back, as he did for the opening few games of last season. If that does happen, Merino could be the one to benefit with Declan Rice utilised in defensive midfield to allow him and one of Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard to occupy the advanced roles.

The chances of that actually happening look to have increased as well following Arsenal's social media post before the game. On Friday night, Arsenal posted a graphic to Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) promoting their upcoming fixture with Merino front and centre.

READ MORE: Arsenal guaranteed to be without six players for Southampton as Jurrien Timber call 'confirmed'

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An involvement in the pre-match graphic often hints that those players will be involved to some degree with Merino certainly in line for more minutes. Considering he has been injured, Arteta may opt to select him on the bench again with an alternative solution found at right-back if Partey remains in midfield.

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