LONDON (AP) — Mikel Merino's debut for Arsenal has been put on hold after the Spain midfielder sustained a broken bone in his shoulder in his first training session following his move for $42 million.
Merino was in contention to play a part in Arsenal's Premier League game at home to Brighton on Saturday after joining from Real Sociedad on Tuesday.
However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said Merino was hurt when defender Gabriel Magalhaes fell on him during a practice session on Thursday.
“It looks like he’ll be out for a few weeks,” Arteta said Friday. “It was in his first session with us. It’s really bad luck, we were all excited, everything was looking good. He landed on the floor, Gabriel fell on top of him and it looks like he has a small fracture.
“He was in so much pain, we have to see. He’ll do more tests which will have more conclusive answers.”
There is a two-week break for international matches after the upcoming Premier League round this weekend.
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FILE - Spain's Mikel Merino controls the ball during a training session ahead of Sunday's Euro 2024, final soccer match in Donaueschingen, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
Marcus Rashford snapped a 12-game barren run in front of goal as Manchester United beat Southampton 3-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Rashford doubled United's lead at Saint Mary's after Matthijs de Ligt's scored his first for the club. Substitute Alejandro Garnacho scored a third in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
The win came after back-to-back defeats for United in a disappointing start to the season.
Rashford hadn't scored since United's 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup in March. He curled in a shot from the edge of the area to put Erik ten Hag's team 2-0 up at Southampton in the 41st minute.
De Ligt, who joined United from Bayern Munich in the off-season, headed in from Bruno Fernandes' cross in the 35th.
It was a much-needed with for United after losses to Brighton and Liverpool in the first three games of the season. But it could have been a different story if Cameron Archer had converted a penalty for Southampton in the 33rd. Instead, his effort was saved by goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Newly promoted Southampton was reduced to 10-men when Jack Stephens was sent off in the 79th for a high challenge on Garnacho.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Manchester United's goalkeeper Andre Onana save a penalty from Southampton's Cameron Archer during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Southampton's Jan Bednarek speaks to Manchester United's head coach Erik ten Hag during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Southampton's Flynn Downes, right, and Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes reacts after not getting a corner during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, center, takes a shot during the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Manchester United at St. Mary's stadium in Southampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
