Mikel Arteta is set to strengthen his Arsenal squad (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal are on the verge of completing their third summer signing but appear unlikely to enter the market for a new striker.
The Gunners have endured a subdued summer transfer window, only bringing in Riccardo Calafiori from Serie A side Bologna and making David Raya’s loan move from Brentford permanent.
Mikel Arteta did not think his Arsenal squad needed a massive overhaul after leading the Gunners to back-to-back second-place finishes in the Premier League.
One player he has targeted is Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino and his move to Arsenal is now a ‘matter of hours away’, according to Spanish outlet AS.
Merino has been left out of Sociedad’s squad for their La Liga opener against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday as he finalises his move to north London.
The 28-year-old has made over 200 appearances for Real Sociedad and helped Spain win Euro 2024 over the summer, featuring heavily for Luis de la Fuente’s side.
Explaining why Merino will not feature in Sociedad’s league opener, manager Imanol Alguacil said: ‘Mikel Merino is not in the squad because I decided so.
Mikel Merino is on the verge of joining Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
‘He was ready to help the team. We will see if he will be with us next week or not. There are open negotiations.’
While Arsenal close in on Merino, they have also been heavily linked with a move for a new striker this summer.
The Gunners were one of the most prolific teams in Europe last season but had to rely on Kai Havertz up top for the majority of the campaign due to Gabriel Jesus’ issues with injury and a lack of form.
The likes of Victor Osimhen, Ivan Toney and Alexander Isak have been linked with the Premier League runners-up but Arteta has suggested Arsenal will not be signing a striker before the transfer window shuts.
Mikel Arteta drops Arsenal transfer hint
Speaking after Arsenal’s 2-0 opening Premier League win over Wolves, Arteta said: ‘I have faith in [Havertz], we have faith in [Gabriel Jesus].
‘Leandro Trossard] has played in that position. So we have different qualities in there and the best thing we can do is trust the players that we have and try improve them.
‘They are so good and so willing and that’s what we focus on.’
Havertz scored Arsenal’s first goal of the new season midway through the first half against Wolves before Bukayo Saka doubled the hosts’ lead on 74 minutes.
‘What I’ve seen is the willingness,’ Arteta said as he plans a new title challenge. ‘Whether we’re gonna do it [win the title] or not, we’ll have to show it every day in how we play and the results that we take away.
‘In the first game there’s always that uncertainty about how you’re going to react, especially against a difficult opponent. We scored two, kept a clean sheet. Job done, score two, clean sheet, win.
‘Win in any context. You’ll have better days, or worse days. The opposition will guide you to play in a specific type of way.
‘Today we won in a convincing way, but probably in a different way because it’s what the game requires.’
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