'I'm fortunate to be alive' - Merino relives bus attack
Retold by Oddsrama · 16 October 2026
Mikel Merino has opened up about a brush with death that still shapes how he views his career. Back in 2017, when the Arsenal midfielder was just 20 and playing for Borussia Dortmund, the team bus was targeted by explosives on the way to a Champions League semi-final against Monaco. Three bombs packed with metal shards detonated as the coach passed, sending shrapnel through the vehicle. A chunk of metal pierced the headrest of Merino's usual seat—but he wasn't in it that day. A simple decision to move forward because his legs felt tight may have saved his life.
Merino has described the moment with raw honesty: the deafening blast, the bus nearly flipping, blood on the floor, thick smoke, and screams everywhere. His teammate Marc Bartra was badly injured and needed surgery. The incident left deep scars on everyone involved, but Merino channeled that trauma into motivation. Years later, when a foot stress fracture threatened to end his World Cup dreams in 2022, he refused to accept defeat. Doctors said six months out; the World Cup was four months away. He pushed for surgery to insert screws into his foot, battled his Arsenal medical team for game time, and earned a 30-minute appearance against Crystal Palace just before the squad announcement. It worked—he made the final squad and went on to win the tournament with Spain.
For bettors and followers tracking Merino's career arc, this story underlines the mental toughness now on display at Arsenal. A player who survived a terrorist attack and overcame career-threatening injury to lift football's biggest prize isn't someone who crumbles under pressure. His resilience is part of what makes him valuable in high-stakes moments, whether in the Premier League or European competition.
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