Merino Reveals Switch That May Have Saved His Life in Bus Attack

On 11 April 2017, three explosive devices were detonated next to the Dortmund bus as it travelled to the Westfalenstadion for a Champions League quarter-final against Monaco. Defender Marc Bartra suffered a serious injury to his wrist and required surgery, whilst a police officer was also injured during the attack. 

Merino described the deafening noise of the blast and the bus nearly tipping over. He recalled turning around to see blood on the floor, amid smoke and screams, and later waiting at the hospital that night for news on his fellow compatriot Bartra.

It was only the following day that he learned how close he had come to being seriously hurt himself. Merino was told that a large piece of shrapnel had been found embedded in the headrest of the seat next to Bartra, the seat he would normally sit in.

On that day, however, it had been empty. Merino explained that his legs had been feeling tight, and as the seats at the front of the bus reclined, he chose to sit there instead, a decision he believes may have saved his life.

He admitted the incident marked everyone involved, and said it left him with a belief that he has an angel on his shoulder and that things happen for a reason.

Merino reflected, ‘I'm actually fortunate to be alive at all.’

That outlook helped him through one of the most difficult periods of his career last season. When he suffered a rare stress fracture in his foot in February and was told it would be ‘impossible’ for him to make the World Cup, Merino said he drew on that same belief before deciding to fight to make Spain's squad.

The 30-year-old initially feared that he may be forced into retirement due to his injury, but he went on to score two late winners in the knockout rounds as Spain lifted the trophy.

The match against Monaco was played the following evening, with Dortmund losing 3-2. A man was later convicted of attempted murder over the attack and sentenced to life imprisonment, with prosecutors saying he had hoped to profit from a fall in the club's share price.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was due to testify in court just two days before his move to the Gunners was announced in January 2018, but was unable to, citing illness.

Merino left Dortmund that summer, and went on to play for Newcastle United and Real Sociedad before joining Arsenal in 2024.

The Spaniard won the DFB Pokal with Dortmund just a month after the attack, and won his first league title last season at Arsenal.

He hopes to add more silverware to his collection this season, claiming the Gunners can ‘absolutely’ win every trophy on offer this campaign.