Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal face an extended period without Mikel Merino after the midfielder broke a bone in his foot, prompting fresh transfer talk
Mikel Arteta during Arsenal’s win at Leeds(Image: OLI SCARFF, AFP via Getty Images)
As Arsenal brace themselves for life without Mikel Merino for the foreseeable future, speculation about a frantic last-minute spending spree has intensified. Merino is set to undergo surgery after fracturing a foot bone, and while the exact timeline remains unclear, his absence will be lengthy and leave the Gunners with decisions to make.
“Mikel will have surgery in the coming days and will then begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme,” Arsenal confirmed in a statement. “Mikel is expected to be out of action for an extended period, with the aim of returning to full training before the end of the season.”
The Gunners splashed the cash during the summer window, bringing in Martin Zubimendi, Ebere Eze and Christian Norgaard to bolster their midfield ranks. Yet that hasn’t stopped further high-profile names being touted as potential arrivals.
Among those is Sandro Tonali. The Italian midfielder has previously won plaudits from international colleague and Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori and continues to be held in high esteem at St James’ Park.
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Unfortunately for Arsenal, Newcastle don’t look as though they’ll be easy to negotiate with. Eddie Howe’s side maintains there has been no approach, despite reports from Europe suggesting the former AC Milan star could be heading to North London, and even if there was a bid, there’s no guarantee it would be entertained.
Al Hilal’s midfielder Ruben Neves is another player who’s caught the eye. Mikel Arteta was a fan of the Portuguese international during his time at Wolves, but it was the Saudi team that won the race to sign him in 2023.
Neves’ contract in Riyadh is due to expire in the summer, leading to speculation that he could make a bargain return to the Premier League. However, recent reports suggest that he’s considering extending his stay.
Sandro Tonali is one of the midfielders who appears off-limits for Arsenal(Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Another name that has come up of late is that of Ethan Nwaneri. The young player joined Marseille on loan until the end of the season and scored in his debut match, but an injury to Merino has raised questions about whether Arsenal might be able to bring him back to North London.
However, according to The Telegraph, there’s no recall clause in the loan agreement, making a return ‘impossible’. This means Nwaneri is expected to stay in France until the summer, though recent comments have provided a sliver of doubt,
“In football, anything is possible,” Nwaneri said at a press conference, per reports in France. “We’ll see what happens, whether there are discussions or not. We’ll talk about it at the right moment.”
Ethan Nwaneri celebrating his goal for Marseille against Lens(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
So, where does this leave Arsenal? Zubimendi and Eze have already clocked up regular playing time alongside Declan Rice, Merino or a combination of the pair this season, though Norgaard may now see more action than he has in the first half of the campaign.
Max Dowman could also get some game time in a central role when he recovers from an injury, which currently leaves him out of commission, with the teenager potentially back on the pitch before the end of February. Beyond this, there’s also a chance Arsenal will give midfield spots to a couple of players who usually play in other positions.
Kai Havertz has previously played as the most forward midfielder, whether at Arsenal or his former clubs Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen. Myles Lewis-Skelly also came through the academy as a central midfielder before impressing at left-back last season, so a return to that role at senior level could be a possibility.
There are still a few hours left of the transfer window, and there’s ample time for another midfield target to come into view. However, for the time being, Arsenal might find their solution without needing to spend any more money.
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