After losing to PSG, Arsenal have now lost each of the last four semi-finals they've reached in all competitions, failing to win a single one of the eight legs
Mikel Merino believes Arsenal’s “huge learning curve” will help them win major trophies. The Gunners are consigned to a fifth year without any silverware after Mikel Arteta ’s nearly men crashed out of the Champions League to Paris Saint Germain.
Incredibly, Arsenal have lost their last four semi finals in all competitions - without winning any of the eight legs - and they will now face serious question marks about their mentality. But Merino says the latest defeat to PSG on the back of a difficult season of frustration and injuries in the Premier League will be a valuable lesson in the longer term.
Gunners midfielder Merino, part of Spain’s Euros winning squad last summer, believes Arsenal’s younger players will be stronger for the experience and he has now doubts they will win silverware.
Merino said: “It’s really disappointing because of the mentality of this club, of this squad is always to try to win big things and at the same time this season is going to be a huge learning curve for us because we have such a young squad, not so much experience in these situations.
“But having played Real Madrid in the Bernabeu, having played against PSG, it’s going to be a huge learning point for the future. We will be back stronger, we will be back more ready. It’s completely true to say that you have to lose first to win later and those experiences are really, really helpful.
“In the future we will remember these kind of games and remember what is needed to win against top clubs, to win in games you will face in the Champions League and also in the Premier League.
“So, the things that someone may think of a setback, we have to look at them as something to learn.
“We must be really proud of what we have achieved, but also try to learn from it because we know we have made mistakes and the good thing is we know it, we will learn, we will improve and work harder this summer to force ourselves to improve.
“We have to force ourselves in the future to be stronger, for sure. I think in the future will be ready, for sure.”
Merino insisted PSG - in their 13th season in the knockout stage - are an example of never giving up while Arsenal also went close in the Premier League title race in the past two seasons. This season was supposed to be the year they won a major trophy but have come up short domestically and in Europe.
They also face a difficult end to the campaign with a trip to Liverpool on Sunday and then Newcastle at home and Southampton away. They have yet to secure a Champions League slot while they are in danger of losing second place, too. But Merino insists they will keep going until the end of the campaign despite their European heartbreak casting a huge shadow.
Merino added: “Nobody has the feeling that this season is over, we know we have big things ahead of us and this game today has to feel like energy for the future to finish with a good atmosphere, in the dressing room, with a good atmosphere with the crowd.
“We need to show to everybody that we are still hungry for more. We have to finish the season ion a high to go to the summer with a feeling that we can come back stronger.”