Arsenal’s inability to dethrone Manchester City as Premier League champions for the past two seasons can be attributed to multiple reasons. Pep Guardiola’s team has dominated for the last four seasons, while Mikel Arteta’s squad is striving for a league title that has eluded them for over two decades.
After narrowly missing the top position by five points in the 2022-23 season, Arsenal made significant enhancements across all positions last summer, acquiring goalkeeper David Raya on loan from Brentford, defender Jurriën Timber from Ajax, midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham, and forward Kai Havertz from Chelsea. With over £200 million spent on new talent, Arteta’s side was anticipated to mount a serious title challenge, which they did, ultimately falling short by just two points. Winning 16 of their final 18 league matches, a crippling loss to Aston Villa, however, sealed their fate.
The conclusion of the season brought supporters to a consensus on the areas demanding reinforcement: left-back and the holding midfield position. Arteta promptly moved to address inconsistencies at left-back by signing Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for £42 million. Last season, Arteta rotated his left-back options frequently, starting with Timber until his injury and then fielding the attack-oriented Oleksandr Zinchenko before turning to the defensively sound Jakub Kiwior. Now, he can focus on establishing a stable back four.
With a more solid defense, Arteta and sporting director Edu are now focused on bringing in an additional midfielder. Rice’s exceptional performances toward the season’s conclusion occurred when he shifted from a conservative No 6 role to a more proactive No 8 position. Jorginho and Thomas Partey played as the deepest players in a midfield trio last term, thereby allowing Rice more freedom. However, nearing their mid-30s, they seem to represent Arsenal’s past rather than its future.
So, which player should the club target to elevate their midfield? Which addition could transition this team from finishing second to possibly clinching the title ahead of Manchester City? Mikel Merino, the Real Sociedad midfielder who contributed to Spain’s Euro victory earlier this month, appears to be the ideal candidate. The 28-year-old’s contract with La Real is nearing expiration, and he has yet to negotiate an extension.
Merino had a winding path early in his career, launching at Osasuna, where his father played, and making his debut a decade ago, before moving to Borussia Dortmund and then Newcastle, where he was mentored by fellow Spaniard Rafa Benítez. Despite showing promise in his solitary season with Newcastle, he was sold to Real Sociedad for around £10 million in 2018, returning to the Basque region at just 22.
In the past six years, Merino’s growth has been remarkable. He was acknowledged as Real Sociedad’s standout player last season and was the top-ranked central midfielder in La Liga. His performances earned him international recognition, making his Spain debut in 2020 and rising to prominence during the Euros this summer, where he scored a pivotal 119th-minute goal against Germany that secured Spain’s spot in the semi-finals. He participated in all seven of Spain’s matches, a fitting reward for his club-level achievements.
Under the guidance of Imanol Alguacil, Merino has predominantly played as a left-sided No 8 in a 4-3-3 formation, quite akin to Arteta’s system at Arsenal. The Spanish international is also adept at anchoring a midfield trio or forming a double pivot. His adaptability, combined with Rice’s ability to shift positions, would allow the duo to interchange roles based on the opponent and the game situation.
Merino embodies the type of midfielder Arteta would envision if given the opportunity to design one. He is press-resistant, inventive, tenacious, and above all, a master at winning duels; last season, no midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues won more aerial duels (168) than Merino.
Similar to Rice, for whom Arsenal invested approximately £105 million last summer, Merino is an exceptionally well-rounded midfielder. He can advance as a No 8 and initiate pressing, much like Arsenal’s captain Martin Ødegaard, or defend deeper as a No 6 when needed, either alongside another player or independently. Merino even has experience playing in tandem with Ødegaard: they were part of the Real Sociedad squad that triumphed in the Copa del Rey in 2020, with Merino earning the man of the match accolade in the final.
The recruitment of Calafiori will also bolster Arsenal’s midfield. The Italian defender has already demonstrated – particularly at Euro 2024 – his capability to step into midfield during possession, which would add further strength to what could become a physically imposing midfield with Rice and Merino, both over six feet tall.
With a rumored fee of €30 million (£25.3 million), Merino would be a savvy acquisition for a club aiming to progress further both domestically and in Europe next season. His capacity to adapt to multiple midfield roles would also allow emerging talents like Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri—both rated highly by the club—to receive more opportunities to play in the coming years.
Arteta has consistently emphasized that Arsenal must not only be good but perfect to outpace Guardiola’s Manchester City. Merino could serve as the essential component in achieving a title-winning squad.
