Arsenal’s need for a new CDM
If were being honest, Arsenal’s midfield is probably where we need to strengthen the most this summer transfer window. Our defence is looking solid and although we’re probably in need of another striker, we also have player who can come in and play up top whereas in midfield, we look a bit lost.
Thomas Partey is looking likely to leave this summer and i think that’s the right decision as he is too injury prone and inconsistent for what we need. Last season we played a lot of the season with Rice, Havertz, Odegaard and Jorginho in the midfield, but by the end of the season, Havertz stepped in for the injured Jesus and our midfield began to look a bit lost without a proper defensive midfielder and we began to look at lot more open in the middle.
One name that has just started to do the rounds is Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino. The 28-year-old currently plays at Real Sociedad and has been extremely consistent for the Spanish side and his national side. Mikel Arteta is said to be a big fan of Merino and when you look at the type of player we should be looking for, Merino makes a lot of sense.
He may be a little older than most fans would want but he would bring a lot of experience and leadership to a role that’s not easy to play. He already has a relationship with Martin Odegaard because of when he went on loan to Real Sociedad, which could make the transition easier for the player to get settled and I think he would be a perfect partner for Declan Rice who is missing someone a bit deeper than him to bounce off.
There’s going to be competition for his signature as apparently Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are both interested in the midfielder, but is Merino is looking for a new challenge in a new league, Arsenal could be the perfect club for him. It’s being reported that Real Sociedad is looking for around €30 Million for him, which is a very good deal as he had a release clause almost double of that and Arsenal could probably bring the price down to €25 Million.
The player is currently away with Spain at the Euro’s where he will face off against England in the final and has had a very good tournament so far, scoring the winner against Germany to send Spain through to the semi-finals and has made Spain’s midfielder look solid.
For me, Merino would be a stop gap signing to someone younger, maybe a player who could come in and teach a younger academy player, I don’t think we sign him for a long time solution, but, he feels like he could be the perfect stop gap signing. With interested clearly being shown, do you think he could be the right guy for the job at Arsenal?
Daisy Mae
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any updates about calafiori
I believe he can be a good signing and his price-tag must be quite affordable since his contract is expiring at Real Sociedad
But Fabrizio Romano said Arsenal were monitoring Joao Neves for months, not Merino
I think Arteta wants Rice to keep playing the left-sided AM role and sign Joao Neves as Jorginho’s/ Partey’s successor for the CDM position
I like Joao Neves he is very combertive and good in tight space my worry is if he can cope with Epl physicality. I think a well built midfielder like Pathey should be considered.Mike Merino is more technically gifted than Neves and he has a good passing range.
It’d be good if Merino is more skilled than Neves, but Neves surely has lower center of gravity to control and protect the ball
I’m sorry but I don’t think Merino is an upgrade on Partey, nor is Olmo an upgrade on ESR. Calafiori will be good. Kounde will be good. Williams will be food. Brobbey will be OK. I just feel that it is good for them that Lokonga, Nelson, Tavares, Zinchenko, Nkettiah, Kiwior and Jesus leaves. The goalies can each play 35 games. That is almost once a week. ESR and Partey still need at least a year. And we need to get either Toney or Watkins to be our 9 with Brobbey and Harvetz. Alternatives is Guirrassey or V Boniface. If you don’t go for Ollie or Toney than Calafiori, Williams, Boniface, Brobbey can all be less than 200k. With outgoings and new income it should be in ranger of the regulations.
You seem to be overdosing on FIFA video games..
@Goonster just Google his name “Domkop” and you won’t be surprised 😉. I think it’s an Afrikaans or Dutch
@Domkop
Olmo runs circles around ESR. Just sayin…
You lost me @ ESR=Olmo.
SMFH
Merino would not be a direct replacement for Partey but,belatedly, for Xhaka.He would restore balance to the team that was missing last season.
Definitely @Grandad, by the way he used to play for New Castle around 2017/2018 what happened there? Why did he leave, was he good enough?
Agree, Grandad. Although I think he’d be preferred in a creative no.6 role that MA seems to have been targeting for a while.
Imo he’d be a shrewd signing but would still require a more attacking no.8 so that Rice and Merino would rotate for the no.6 and Rice could also rotate for a young left-side no.8.
Would Arsenal sign a 28 year-old CDMF Mikel Merino this simmer, and replace Thomas Partey with him? But if it happens that both Arsenal and Partey did agree he can leaves Arsenal this summer. And possibly to the Saudi Pro League as being insinuated he might accept to do so.
Mikel Merino should really be a top quality cdmf that makes Arsenal to want to sign him.
Not sure about Partey replacement but Merino is solid in defense and good on the attacking side too so he would be a good addition to our squad. But the player from Real Sociedad that i prefer is Zubimendi, although we won’t be getting him
i like merino but i think he plays more in the number 8 role than 6 and so i would prefer zubimend or Onana…..then for a winger why dont Arsenal go for Mousa Diaby or Neto? for a striker i would still trust Nketiah and sell Jesus
Are you joking? Nketiah instead of Jesus !?
Onana is on his way to Villa.