Mikel Merino recalls surviving the Borussia Dortmund bus bombing

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has provided a harrowing account of the 2017 attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus, revealing he narrowly avoided being struck by shrapnel. While traveling to a Champions League quarter-final match against Monaco, three pipe bombs detonated near the vehicle, causing chaos and injury to teammate Marc Bartra.

A near-death experience

"My legs were feeling a bit tight, and the seats in the front reclined. So I sat up there instead, and it may have saved my life."

Mikel Merino

The 20-year-old Merino had been scheduled to sit next to Bartra, but his decision to move seats meant he was not in the position where a large piece of shrapnel later embedded itself. Reflecting on the traumatic event, the Spanish international expressed gratitude for his survival, noting that the incident left a lasting impact on his perspective.

The midfielder, who recently helped Arsenal secure a Premier League title, highlighted how this past experience helped him maintain resilience during his difficult recovery from a foot injury last season. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his career at the time, he remains thankful for his journey.