Toby Wilding

Thu 8 May 2025 14:50, UK

Arsenal star Mikel Merino has spoken out on social media following the club’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of PSG.

Having lost out to Liverpool in the Premier League title race while also being knocked out of both the FA Cup and League Cup, the Champions League was the Gunners’ last hope of silverware this season.

On Wednesday (7 May) though, their hopes of lifting that trophy were also brought to an end for another campaign.

After making it to the semi finals of the competition, Mikel Arteta‘s side found themselves trailing 1-0 to the French champions after the first leg at the Emirates last week.

The second leg in the French capital then saw Arsenal beaten 2-1 by PSG to knock them out 3-1 on aggregate, with Luis Enrique’s side set to take on Inter Milan in the final.

Merino has had a significant part to play in that run to the final four for the Gunners, and has now been left to reflect on coming up short in their hunt for another trophy.

Mikel Merino speaks out on PSG defeat

With the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz still out with injury for Arsenal, that second leg in Paris once again saw Merino employed as a makeshift centre-forward for the North London club.

The Spaniard played the full 90 minutes of that clash, and despite the frustration of missing out, it seems he still has a sense of pride and optimism when reflecting on the result.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday (8 May), Merino thanked the Gunners fans for their support during their Champions League campaign.

He wrote: “We can only say THANK YOU. For being with us in this beautiful trip, from start to finish. It doesn’t end the way we’d have wanted to, but there is no doubt that we left it all out there. On one hand, feeling disappointed.

“On the other, confident that this experience will help us when we get there in future seasons. Let’s stick together and finish the season in the best way! COYG.”

In response, two other involved in that game for the club, David Raya – who saved a penalty controversially awarded against Myles Lewis-Skelly – and Leandro Trossard both liked the post.

Meanwhile, centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes who remains out injured for Arsenal at the moment, would also show his support by liking that message from Merino.

Arsenal star to revert to more natural role

Football Insider Verdict

There is no doubt Merino deserves credit for the effort he has put in while filling in as a centre-forward for Arteta’s side in recent months, even coming up with some crucial goals.

Despite that, this loss to PSG once again highlighted the need for Arsenal to go out and sign some extra depth at centre-forward in the summer transfer window.

Since they must now know that could be the difference between winning silverware and not next season, it would be a huge shock if they fail to get such a deal done in the summer.

That in turn ought to mean that Merino will find himself back in his more natural central midfield role from the start of the 2025/26 campaign.