The summer's transfer window is officially open and that means more rumours and news will be coming out about who Arsenal will be looking to sign for the upcoming 2024/25 season.
We are only in June and the rumour mill is been in full flow, Mikel Arteta's side have been linked with moves for a striker to provide a bigger goal threat in the hope it will push them closer to the title, along with another midfielder to replace the Granit Xhaka shaped hole, after he left for Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
The Gunners have been heavily linked to Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, who had an outstanding season last campaign scoring 29 and assisting 10 in the league during his first season in Portugal.
Another target for Arteta is Joshua Kimmich, who could be seeking a move away from Bayern Munich, he is seen as one of the options for midfield but could come at a much greater cost to the man we are about to look at.
Here we will cover the potential signing of Mikel Merino, a Spanish international who is seen as an all-round midfielder, being able to contribute in both boxes and be an engine all over the field. The Real Sociedad man has been heavily linked to Barcelona this summer, but what will he add to Arsenal if they can entice him to North London?
Who is Mikel Merino?
Merino is a 28-year-old Spanish midfielder who plays for Real Sociedad and is a Spanish International, with 25 caps to his name. He is currently part of the national team in Germany for this summer's European Championships, where he has made two substitute appearances in Spain's 100 per cent start to the tournament.
Merino made his professional debut in 2014 while playing for Osasuna where he made 63 appearances, before having single seasons with both Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle, then finally making the move to Real Sociedad where he has played for six seasons.
Since his move back to Spain in 2018 Merino has been an integral part of the Spanish outfit making 190 appearances in La Liga contributing to 42 goals from midfield.
How does Merino fit Arsenal?
It is clear to see how Mikel Arteta intends to play after last season's impressive title challenge which saw the Gunners fall short on the final day. They play a 4-3-3 and the midfield works with a lone 6, and two number eights, one being Declan Rice who is slightly more box-to-box and the other Martin Ødegaard.
Merino could fit into this Arsenal team is in the Declan Rice role. He put up impressive defensive numbers last season in La Liga with 2.4 tackles per game compared to Rice's 2.2, along with 1.7 clearances, with Rice only having 1.3.
Showing Merino is prepared to do the so-called dirty work for his team as well as contribute higher up the pitch. Standing at 6'2 his physical attributes will definitely not be a problem when adjusting to life in the Premier League.
The Spaniard's high-energy play style also makes him an effective presser, something Arteta would have looked at when identifying the midfielder as a potential target. This fits the profile of a midfielder perfectly, someone who is comfortable on the ball and able to provide a goal threat, while also providing the team with defensive stability on the counter and in transition, something Arteta obsesses over.
One area he may look to improve on is his passing, with his pass completion rate being just 77.5 per cent, which falls some way below his counterparts currently in North London (Jorginho - 90.8 per cent, Rice - 90.7 per cent, Thomas Partey - 90.3 per cent, Ødegaard - 86.8 per cent).
Some will question why Arsenal are going for a player who may not be a guaranteed starter and the answer would be squad depth. After improving last season in the league one stumbling block which occurred was how they performed outside of the Premier League.
A trophy is needed to show some sign of success for the work Arteta has done and after being knocked out in the round of 16 in the League Cup, the third round of the FA Cup and the quarter-final of the Champions League improvement in the cup competitions is where the Gunners will be looking at.
Bringing in someone like Merino will allow others to get much-needed rest throughout the season, along with not affecting the quality of the team. Merino has just one year left on his deal in Spain, meaning Sociedad may look to cash in before potentially losing him on a free transfer next summer, if they can't agree a new deal.
Overall, Merino would be a great addition to this Arsenal squad, providing experience, more goals, roughness in defence and much-needed depth. Last summer showed us that midfielders come at a high cost, however, in Merino's situation, the Gunners could come away with a real steal if all goes their way.
