Arsenal goal new £21m signing to companion Rice & Odegaard

Arsenal have come a good distance over the previous couple of years, and whereas they’re but to carry the Premier League title, it is beginning to really feel extra like a matter of when slightly than if.

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have rejuvenated the Gunners squad and created a genuinely spectacular group filled with stars like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

Regardless of the strides made, the departure of Granit Xhaka final summer season, the positional shift of Kai Havertz, and the potential exit of Thomas Partey this summer season have left a void in Arsenal’s midfield that must be addressed.

So, it is unsurprising that the most recent participant touted for a transfer to N5 may very well be the proper particular person to finish Arteta’s midfield trio.

Arsenal switch information

In accordance with a latest report from Spain, Arsenal are eager on signing Actual Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino this summer season.

Juanmarti claims that Arteta has a powerful want to carry the Spanish worldwide to the Emirates and that, following conversations, the participant has grow to be “seduced” by the Gunners’ proposals.

The journalist goes on to disclose in an article for Sport that the Basque facet can be tempted into promoting if the North Londoners make a suggestion within the area of €25m, which is round £21m.

He may not be a reputation overly acquainted to Premier League followers, however given how eager Arteta is to land the participant, the affordable payment, and the potential to solidify the group’s midfield, this looks like a switch too good to go up.

How Merino may full Arsenal’s midfield

So, in the mean time, Arsenal have two midfielders who’re nailed on for a spot within the beginning lineup virtually each week: Rice and Odegaard.

The previous captained West Ham United to a European trophy from a defensive midfield place after which, upon transferring to N5, swapped between typically enjoying as a six and typically an eight.

Nonetheless, he did begin as the previous 30 instances for the Gunners final season, and when talking to TNT Sport (through talkSPORT), he claimed it was his “finest place” on the pitch, so it is sensible to maintain him there.

Alternatively, the membership captain has firmly established himself on the tip of the midfield trio for Arteta, racking up a powerful haul of 44 targets and assists over the final two campaigns.

Subsequently, the ultimate place that must be sorted out is central midfield, or the left eight, which is the place the “underrated” Merino, as dubbed by information analyst Ben Mattinson, is available in.

The Sociedad star made 45 appearances final season – 38 of which have been begins in central midfield – wherein he scored eight targets and offered 5 assists, which means he averaged a objective involvement each 2.81 video games.

Nonetheless, whereas that is undeniably spectacular for a deeper participant, the opposite facet of his recreation that most likely caught the Arsenal supervisor’s consideration extra is the variety of duels he gained final season.

In accordance with Squawka, the 23-capped worldwide was the one participant in Europe’s high seven leagues to win over 300 duels, coming in at a remaining variety of 326 – staggering.

You possibly can virtually see him serving to Rice break up play in the midst of the park earlier than driving ahead and serving to Odegaard craft one other beautiful likelihood, proving Mattinson’s declare that the Spaniard is “efficient in all 3 phases” proper.

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The “magnificent” expertise is among the membership’s most necessary gamers.

In the end, Arsenal appear to be they’ll want a brand new all-action quantity eight this summer season, and contemplating his performances final season and his price ticket, signing Merino is a no brainer.