Arsenal are ‘really, really close’ to signing ‘world-class’ player

Fans of Arsenal are about to receive some incredible news.

Though the Gunners’ three preseason games in the US were only one win each, the team spirit remains extremely high.

Arsenal is on the right track, and they are already more formidable than they were in the 2023–24 campaign after bringing in Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna in the final week of July.

In the upcoming days, Arsenal plans to take things further by adding another of Mikel Arteta’s top priorities.

Fabrizio Romano updates us on Mikel Merino and Arsenal.
For more than a month, Arsenal has had their eye on Mikel Merino.

After helping Spain win the Euros in Germany, the Real Sociedad midfielder—who Kieran Tierney of the Guardian called a “world-class” player—became coveted.

Merino has been linked to both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but Arteta has been pressuring Arsenal to get him as well.

For fans of Arsenal, there is now some positive news.

Romano stated earlier this week that negotiations to sign Merino this summer have begun between Arsenal and Real Sociedad.

The writer has now disclosed that an agreement between Arsenal and Sociedad for Merino is “really, really close,” which is good news for Gooners.

“Let me say that Arsenal are really closing in on the deal for Mikel Merino and let me clarify that the package is going to be something around €30m,” he wrote in his Daily Briefing.

The terms of the agreement between Real Sociedad and Arsenal will become clearer to us in the coming days, but it is really close. Everything is moving towards its conclusion.

At Arsenal, Merino will at last take the place of a beloved player.
The 2023–24 season saw some problems for Arsenal on the left side of the pitch.

The Gunners are one of the most formidable sides in the Premier League thanks to their amazing right triangle of Ben White, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka.

On the other hand, Granit Xhaka’s departure in the summer of 2023 was a major factor in Arsenal’s lack of balance during the previous campaign.

With Calafiori slated to play left-back, Merino may finally displace Xhaka on the left side of midfield, and Arsenal’s left side may develop into a competitive unit on par with their right.

They are now more stronger as a result, and it might make a difference in the championship game the following season.