According to reports, Real Sociedad and Arsenal have reached an agreement on a transaction that would see Mikel Merino join Arsenal. The 28-year-old Spanish international is expected to sign a contract worth about £33 million with the Gunners.
Since joining Sociedad from Newcastle United in 2018, he has been a vital player. Merino is anticipated to sign a four-year deal with a one-year option, provided he passes his physical.
Merino's inclusion can help the Gunners
Because Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, and Jorginho can all anchor the defensive midfield role, Arsenal's midfield is already well-stocked. But everyone of these players has something special to offer the squad, and Merino's addition would give Mikel Arteta's tactical setup even more depth.
Rice moved from a conventional No. 6 position to a more advanced No. 8 one last season, where he flourished. In order to allow Rice to have an impact on the game higher up the pitch, Partey and Jorginho were frequently used as the deepest players in a midfield trio.
This pattern seems to be maintained by Arteta's approach this season, which calls for Rice to take on a more attacking role. Merino's acquisition makes strategic sense in this situation.
In midfield, Merino provides a muscular presence that neither Jorginho nor Partey can match. In line with Arteta's concept for his midfield, his power and aerial abilities might provide Arsenal the stability they need to give Rice greater license to move forward. Merino is not simply a strong defensive player, though; under Real Sociedad's system, he has excelled as a box-to-box midfielder due to his exceptional passing ability.
Because of his versatility, he may be used with Rice in a double-pivot or other formations. Arteta would have more choices in both domestic and European tournaments with this freedom.
