Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has set his sights on Euro 2024 winner Mikel Merino as the Gunners look to add the finishing touches to their squad ahead of the new season.
Ever since Granit Xhaka left N5, there has been a real lack of depth in the left-hand pocket in Arsenal’s midfield. Arteta experimented with playing Kai Havertz in the role before turning to playing him as a striker.
But perhaps the main downside to Arsenal losing Xhaka was the effect it had on Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian winger managed just six Premier League goals last season, in comparison to 15 with Xhaka in support during 2022/23.
This summer window, Thomas Partey could leave Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny has also already departed Emirates Stadium and while Jorginho is set to stay, more changes may be afoot.
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There has been interest at Arsenal in signing Bruno Guimaraes, while Amadou Onana was also linked with a move to N5 before joining Aston Villa.
Now, Arteta is pushing Arsenal to secure a transfer from Real Sociedad for Merino as the Spaniard looks to finally fill Xhaka’s void.
Many Arsenal fans may get flashbacks to Denis Suarez or Dani Ceballos with another Spain international in N5. But Merino can truly fix the dynamic on the left-hand side of Arsenal’s midfield, just like he did for Real Sociedad.
Mikel Merino can recreate his Real Sociedad impact at Arsenal
Merino was a part of the Spain squad that recently won Euro 2024 and he’s been compared to Xhaka in the past. The hard-working midfielder possesses the necessary skill set to get Arsenal’s left-hand side firing again, recreating how he re-ignited the Real Sociedad team when he joined them in 2018.
Similarly to Arsenal in the early Arteta days, Sociedad were going through a slump when Merino joined having just finished 12th in La Liga.
Two seasons later, the team was completely transformed. Back in Europe consistently, on top of ending a 34-year trophy drought with a victory over Athletic Bilbao in the postponed 2019/20 Copa del Rey final.
Real Sociedad’s re-emergence now provides a very interesting parallel for Arteta as he looks to bring Merino to Arsenal this summer.
In a midfield with fellow Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi and Manchester City legend David Silva, Merino was central to the Txuri-Urdin’s efforts as they edged Athletic for a 1-0 win.
While the 28-year-old was far from one of the most creative options in the side, the role he played in the transition by launching attacks and breaking the lines was pivotal to making things tick for those around him – including former Arsenal man, Nacho Monreal.
The strengths of Mikel Merino in midfield
A prime example of how Merino facilitates his teammates can be encapsulated in a breakaway Real Sociedad move against Atletico Madrid in 2019. The attack even ended with a trademark Martin Odegaard cutback finish – something that all Arsenal fans know all too well about.
With the teams still deadlocked in the second half, Merino recognised the space that Kieran Trippier had vacated after Monreal played a short pass to the winger.
He picked up possession in acres of space and advanced the run, before a Xhaka-esque left-footed driven pass into the danger zone on the edge of the box teed up Odegaard for a sublime finish to take the lead.
It would come as no surprise to see that sequence recreated at Arsenal next season if Merino joins.
As we saw from Xhaka and Odegaard, overloads on the flanks are a key feature of how Arteta wants to play.
There was also plenty of evidence in the 2020 Copa del Rey final to suggest Merino could now be Arsenal’s long-sought Xhaka replacement after allowing Monreal, Mikel Oyarazabal and Odegaard more room and time on the ball.
On the defensive front, Merino has also led Real Sociedad’s press from deep many times – similar to how Odegaard often takes charge for Arsenal.
Mikel Merino’s underlying stats
Merino also has the numbers to back up the hype and most importantly for Arteta, he wins his duels.
According to FBref, the Pamplona native leads the way for midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for aerial duels won with almost six per 90 minutes last season. That is more than Gabriel Magalhaes (2.28), William Saliba (1.89) and Ben White (1.08) won for Arsenal combined.
Add to that, Merino also won the most general duels across Europe’s top five leagues with 326. So, there is a lot for Arsenal fans to be excited about with Merino if you are as keen on winning duels as Arteta.
The goal threat that the Spaniard would bring also cannot be understated. Merino’s tall frame makes him a real threat from set-pieces.
He also averaged a similar amount of touches in the opponent’s penalty box to Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (3.03) over the last year with 2.75, culminating in eight La Liga goal involvements.
There are some worrying signs, however, such as a very low pass completion rate at 76.5%, as well as only 0.58 interceptions per game. Having said that, if Merino tees up Odegaard for a cutback finish to win the Premier League next season, no Arsenal fans will care about his pass completion percentage.
With Arsenal now very interested in completing a deal for Merino, it is an exciting time and definitely one that looks like it could pay off for Arteta.
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