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 believe that side is a key purpose 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 increase a squad that got here so near successful the title final season, a participant of Merino’s profile makes loads of sense. He gained’t want months to rise up to hurry and to return to phrases with that Mikel Arteta will ask of him. He’s mainly able to go, and I believe there’s (principally) real readability as to his function on this group.
As a ball-winning, duel-monstering 8, he’ll slot into the midfield within the area that Granit Xhaka left when he departed. Declan Rice has performed there loads of late, however I believe 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. In fact issues can occur that we don’t count on – see one Okay.Havertz for proof of that – however that’s the place I believe we’ll see him.
I watched his video on the official web site, and other than 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 desires and I believe this membership has the identical mentality. That is one thing I worth rather a lot. I worth rather a lot the work they put in each single day.”
Is the value a little bit steep? Most likely, however then if he is available in and performs properly, I don’t suppose that will probably be a dialogue level in any respect. You’ll keep in mind individuals 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 all the way down to the participant to carry out, and as I stated above, this can be a excellent participant with huge expertise who ought to be capable of kind of in a position hit the bottom operating.
He is aware of Odegaard from the season the skipper spent on mortgage at Actual Sociedad, Kieran Tierney too, and the actual 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 group, Nicolas Jover should be delighted with the concept 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 pleased with, and we’ll wait and see if he’s concerned for the weekend. I believe 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 verify our new signing podcast over on Patreon, and Phil has his profile piece on our new quantity 23 on the location as properly.
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So, now we wait to see if the rest occurs earlier than the tip of the window. With a little bit over 2 days till the window closes, there isn’t loads of time to get something executed. There don’t seem like any concrete hyperlinks with anybody life like at this second in time, however let’s hope they’re working exhausting 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 really need in the event that they’re not out there on this window.
Past that, we’ll look forward to 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 issues over his harm file, 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.
