There’s just one place to begin this morning and that’s the official arrival of Mikel Merino from Actual Sociedad.
It’s not precisely a bolt from the blue, however actually a welcome addition to a squad that wants it after the departures of Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira from midfield. He’s 28 years of age, with loads of expertise having performed in Spain, England and Germany, and I feel that facet is a key cause why we’ve introduced him in.
Sometimes, Arsenal have recruited youthful in recent times, with the odd exception like Leandro Trossard and Jorginho, however when you concentrate on tips on how to increase a squad that got here so near profitable the title final season, a participant of Merino’s profile makes plenty of sense. He gained’t want months to stand up to hurry and to come back to phrases with that Mikel Arteta will ask of him. He’s mainly able to go, and I feel there’s (largely) real readability as to his function on this crew.
As a ball-winning, duel-monstering 8, he’ll slot into the midfield within the house that Granit Xhaka left when he departed. Declan Rice has performed there plenty of late, however I think that because the season goes on (and type and health permits/dictates), he’ll shift again a bit and that trio of Merino, Rice and Martin Odegaard would be the de facto first selection. After all issues can occur that we don’t anticipate – see one Ok.Havertz for proof of that – however that’s the place I feel we’ll see him.
I watched his video on the official website, and except for his impeccable English, you’ll be able to see there’s a seriousness about him and what he needs from this transfer at a comparatively late stage in his profession. He says:
“I wouldn’t transfer to a membership that aren’t aligned with my needs. What I would like is to develop, to win, to fulfil my goals and I feel this membership has the identical mentality. That is one thing I worth lots. I worth lots the work they put in each single day.”
Is the value a bit of steep? In all probability, however then if he is available in and performs nicely, I don’t suppose that will likely be a dialogue level in any respect. You’ll keep in mind folks elevating extra than simply an eyebrow at £50m for Ben White a couple of years in the past, no person ever talks about what we paid for him now. So, it’s right down to the participant to carry out, and as I mentioned above, it is a superb participant with huge expertise who ought to have the ability to roughly in a position hit the bottom working.
He is aware of Odegaard from the season the skipper spent on mortgage at Actual Sociedad, Kieran Tierney too, and the very fact he’s frolicked in England (Newcastle!), means he shouldn’t have any points settling into life in London. Additionally, at 6’2 he’s one other massive lad so as to add to an already massive crew, Nicolas Jover should be delighted with the thought of one other man within the opposition field who can win headers, and the imposing bodily dimension of this Arsenal facet is 100% deliberate.
So, all in all, a signing I’m very proud of, and we’ll wait and see if he’s concerned for the weekend. I think the bench for Brighton, however after that I’m certain he’ll be pushing to begin. For extra on Mikel Merino as a participant, you’ll be able to test our new signing podcast over on Patreon, and Phil has his profile piece on our new quantity 23 on the location as nicely.
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So, now we wait to see if the rest occurs earlier than the top of the window. With a bit of over 2 days till the window closes, there isn’t plenty of time to get something performed. There don’t look like any concrete hyperlinks with anybody reasonable at this second in time, however let’s hope they’re working onerous within the background on somebody so as to add to the attacking line-up. The longer it goes although, the extra you are worried there gained’t be anybody. Or, maybe, they’re ready to attend for the participant they actually need in the event that they’re not obtainable on this window.
Past that, we’ll await affirmation of Eddie Nketiah’s transfer to Crystal Palace, and Fabio Vieira’s mortgage to Porto. Southampton have been in for Feyenoord keeper Justin Bijlow however that transfer has apparently damaged down attributable to considerations over his damage report, so does that put them again within the image for Aaron Ramsdale? Let’s see the way it goes.
For now, have a very good one.
