Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly interested in securing the services of Real Sociedad playmaker Mikel Merino next summer.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Arsenal are considering launching a swoop for Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Mikel Merino in the next few weeks, with manager Mikel Arteta believed to be a huge admirer of the 27-year-old.
A product of the Osasuna youth setup, Merino left Spain in 2016 and had stints away at Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United before joining Real Sociedad in 2018. Since his return to La Liga, the highly-rated midfielder has emerged as one of La Liga’s best midfielders and a reliable performer for La Real.
A mainstay in the middle of the park for La Real, the 27-year-old has racked up over 200 appearances while chipping in with 20 goals and 27 assists along the way. His classy displays in the middle of the park seems to have caught the attention of Tottenham Hotspur, with fellow north London rivals Arsenal now entering the race.
The Gunners’ looking at Merino is interesting for a number of reasons, not least because it implies that Arteta may be losing some faith in his current system.
When at full strength, Arsenal have played Kai Havertz ahead of Declan Rice, with Martin Odegaard drifting into wider areas closer to Bukayo Saka, a very attacking set-up that has at times left them lacking in numbers and steel in the engine room.
Arteta has tried to revert to a more defensively sound double pivot in a few recent matches, with Rice operating as a left-sided midfielder, but Jorginho hasn’t really convinced him so far this season.
And the other obvious candidate to play a more defensive role next to Rice, Thomas Partey, has been struggling with injury; he will miss the rest of the year and may even be a doubt for Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign in January. With that in mind, it’s becoming more and more clear in recent weeks that Arsenal may need some midfield cover come January.
Merino’s presence would change the way Arsenal looked to play in midfield completely. He excels at the heart of the team in a hybrid box-to-box/holding midfield role, providing both zeal and defensive authority. He can move into the six spaces to receive the ball and distribute possession in between the lines with his excellent range of passing.
However, he mainly operates in the half-spaces on the ball, connecting play, using his excellent composure in tight spaces, and bringing guile to La Real’s build-up combinations.
At 27 years old, he may well be a little too old for what Arsenal are trying to build right now, but he could complement Rice’s work rather well. The England international likes to run with the ball and get forward and is underutilised in a tempo-setter role.
Having said that, Sociedad are in no mood to sell on the cheap and are seemingly standing by the €60 million exit clause embedded in his existing contract until 2025.
