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although arsenalTransfer deadline day wasn’t too crazy, it did cause some drama in the final hours that we didn’t really expect.
In fact, after a big window in the summer, the plan was never to spend big money through the winter, or even at all.
The Gunners not only have the best squad in the league Premier League But even in Europe, that means finding a way to beef it up is always going to be tricky.
That said, there are events in London Colney. High-profile reports emerged early Monday that the shooter had Negotiations with Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonalialthough it later turned out to be a conversation with the player’s agent. As expected, this move did not happen.
Why is Tonali’s name mentioned? Excellently, Mikel MerinoThe injuries didn’t help their case.
Mikel Merino’s latest fitness updates
You save one person and another is injured. This seems to be a series of unfortunate events for Arsenal this season.
With Kai Havertz back in action and making his first league start of the season on Saturday, Merino now takes his place on the treatment table.
The Spaniard was missing from the matchday squad at Elland Road as Arsenal won 4-0, but it was soon confirmed he had suffered a long-term foot injury.
Mikel Arteta It was confirmed that the former Real Sociedad midfielder suffered a fracture and will now require surgery. It is hoped he will return before the end of the season, but the Spain international is unlikely to play much ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
During Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, Arsenal did appear willing to sign a replacement on the final day of the transfer window.
The club’s head coach told reporters: “Of course. When you lose a big-name player in the team (Merino), with four months to go and all the games to play, you need to do everything to see if there are players available. If not, we will keep the players we have.”
“At this level, especially in four months’ time, you have to bring in a player who has the ability to adapt immediately and impact the team. It’s not easy. If it were, we wouldn’t be here. We need to find solutions and try.”
|
Mikel Merino’s position at Arsenal |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Location |
game |
Goals + assists |
|
midfield |
49 |
7 |
|
forward |
twenty three |
16 |
|
attacking midfielder |
2 |
0 |
|
defensive midfielder |
1 |
0 |
While they did complete all first-team deals on Monday, there could still be a solution.
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino solution
The Gunners are likely to miss out on Tonali on deadline day, but they do have a ready solution if Arteta and Co. decide they need the extra body between now and the end of the season.
One option might be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Yes; you read that right, the 32-year-old has been training with Arsenal in recent weeks with the aim of building up his fitness.
Sold by the Gunners for £35m – still their record sale – he has enjoyed an exciting but torrid time since leaving the Emirates Stadium.
Although he won the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool, he suffered through injuries before leaving Anfield in 2023. He joined Besiktas on a free transfer, and even the player himself admitted that it was a culture shock for Türkiye.
He started the season with Besiktas, but at the end of August the club agreed to terminate his contract and he returned to England. The Bulls remain without a club but have been training with Arsenal in recent weeks, including with the senior team and academy, as he aims to regain fitness and find another club.
So, can he re-sign for Arsenal? Arteta was asked about the issue on Monday and said they would explore all possibilities.
There could certainly be a worse solution for the Gunners than a player with 35 England caps in just six months’ time. Oxlade-Chamberlain is 32 years old and although he initially broke through as a winger, he has now firmly established himself as a midfielder.
So, if he does sign on the dotted line and dance one last dance with Arsenal, what can he bring to the team? Okay, so he may not have the same finishing ability as the Merino, but he is always praised for his powerful ability to carry the ball forward, whether playing out wide or through the middle.
A dangerous player in transition, the England international is also known to contribute effectively in the final third, scoring four goals in 20 Super League appearances on his debut for Besiktas. While he was never a regular goalscorer for Arsenal, the best year of his career at Liverpool saw him score eight times.
Is it time to turn back the clock? It feels unlikely, but Arteta’s side could add another man in midfield and wouldn’t it be nice to see the Bulls potentially clinch some trophies in Arsenal red?
