In a recent interview with Give Me Sport, respected journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that Arsenal are very close to signing Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino this month. Romano said,
“We are at the final meters and final details of the Mikel Merino to Arsenal deal, with my sources indicating that it could be something like 24-48 hours before we can say ‘here we go’ – it’s really, really close. They’re almost there, working on the final steps, and then Merino will become a new Arsenal player. There is already an agreement on the final fee, and the clubs have been working in the last two or three weeks on the payment terms, the deal structure, the add-ons, and they are now getting closer on all the details of the deal.”
Merino’s Impressive Form In Spanish Football
Merino experienced a solid campaign at the Spanish club after he put in a run of impressive displays for them in the middle of the park. The 28-year-old participated in 45 matches for Real Sociedad last season, scoring eight times and grabbing five assists across all competitions.
The Spanish talent was a good performer at the centre of the park as he averaged 2.4 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 1.7 clearances, 0.9 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in La Liga. He was even careful when distributing the ball from midfield based on his pass success rate of 77.5% in the Spanish top tier (stats via whoscored).
Is Merino A Good Signing For Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta?
Merino loves a tackle and can make some important interceptions for his team at the centre of the park. He usually clears the danger when required and can create the odd chance for his teammates on the offensive end of the field.
The Spain international can contribute by scoring and creating a handful of goals for his side. However, it remains to be seen whether he can make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League.
Merino would add more quality to Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta’s midfield department. He is good enough to serve as a key asset in the North London’s squad this season. At 28, Merino is playing in his prime which makes him a decent signing for the Gunners to pull off this month.
