Merino has missed most of the second half of the season with a foot injury due to a foot injury that has kept him out since the start of the year.
The Spaniard has been key for the Gunners since joining from Real Sociedad in 2024 as manager Mikel Arteta deployed him a backup striker for both Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres.
The 29-year-old revealed this week that although he is very close to being back at his best, he has really struggled with the injury that has hindered him behind the scenes.
“It was very hard to be honest,” he said. “My feeling was I was playing through pain for a little bit but I wasn’t expecting that a big fracture was going to happen there.
“When I got the news and they said I was going to be out around five months, I could only think about missing the World Cup, missing the end of the season with my team and not being able to help them. I was devastated at the time. It took me a couple of days to recover from it.
“I had two options, to go down and cry myself to extinction or keep my head up, be positive and try to use my time to improve other aspects. Working as hard as I can is the way I approach life.
“With the mobility scooter it’s just trying to bring fun out of it, see the sun. I couldn’t walk for two months. It’s a hard time on crutches. The mobility scooter was a fun way to see the light of day and enjoy time with the dog.”
The final match of the Premier League season away to Crystal Palace where Arsenal will lift the Premier League trophy could be the perfect occasion for Merino’s return, even if it is simply celebrating with the squad.