There’s just one place to start out this morning and that’s the official arrival of Mikel Merino from Actual Sociedad.
It’s not precisely a bolt from the blue, however definitely 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 side is a key motive why we’ve introduced him in.
Sometimes, Arsenal have recruited youthful lately, with the odd exception like Leandro Trossard and Jorginho, however when you concentrate on how one can increase a squad that got here so near successful the title final season, a participant of Merino’s profile makes quite a lot of sense. He received’t want months to rise 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 (principally) real readability as to his position on this workforce.
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 quite a lot of late, however I believe that because the season goes on (and kind 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 alternative. After all issues can occur that we don’t anticipate – see one Okay.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 apart from his impeccable English, you may see there’s a seriousness about him and what he desires 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 wishes. What I need is to develop, to win, to fulfil my goals and I feel this membership has the identical mentality. That is one thing I worth so much. I worth so much the work they put in each single day.”
Is the worth a little bit steep? Most likely, however then if he is available in and performs properly, I don’t suppose that shall be a dialogue level in any respect. You’ll keep in mind individuals elevating extra than simply an eyebrow at £50m for Ben White just a few 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 stated above, this can be a superb participant with huge expertise who ought to be capable of roughly 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 very fact he’s frolicked in England (Newcastle!), means he should not 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 workforce, Nicolas Jover have to be delighted with the concept of one other man within the opposition field who can win headers, and the imposing bodily measurement of this Arsenal aspect 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 believe the bench for Brighton, however after that I’m certain he’ll be pushing to start out. For extra on Mikel Merino as a participant, you may test our new signing podcast over on Patreon, and Phil has his profile piece on our new quantity 23 on the positioning as properly.
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So, now we wait to see if anything occurs earlier than the tip of the window. With a little bit over 2 days till the window closes, there isn’t quite a lot of time to get something carried out. There don’t seem like any concrete hyperlinks with anybody lifelike 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 received’t be anybody. Or, maybe, they’re ready to attend for the participant they actually need in the event that they’re not out there on this window.
Past that, we’ll anticipate 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 as a result of issues over his harm document, so does that put them again within the image for Aaron Ramsdale? Let’s see the way it goes.
For now, have an excellent one.
