Who is Mikel Merino? The ball winning monster wanted by Arsenal

 

With international football put on the backburner until September following the culmination of Euro 2024 and the Copa America over the weekend, attention turns to the transfer window. Clubs have already been active in the market but one side yet to make a splash is title-hopefuls Arsenal. The Gunners finished last season just two points behind Manchester City as they seek to end their long wait for a Premier League trophy. 

 

Having strengthened considerably last summer with the additions of Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, Arsenal remain in a position to add to the squad, and they are expected to make moves sooner rather than later. Riccardo Calafiori is tipped to join from Bologna before long, while midfielder Mikel Merino is another on the club's radar. 

 

With Thomas Partey expected to depart this summer, Mikel Arteta is aware he needs to add bodies in the middle of the park if Arsenal are to launch a successful title pursuit. Merino may not be the most glamourous name on the club's wishlist but that shouldn't deter the north London side from making a move for the Euro 2024 winner. 

 

 

Real Sociedad conceded just 39 league goals last season, the third fewest in La Liga, with Merino key to their defensive resolve. Indeed, despite starting 27 of 38 league games, Merino finished the campaign having made the seventh most tackles (77) in Spain's top tier, returning a tackle success rate of 74.8% in the process, that ranking 29th of the 148 players to have attempted at least 50 tackles, while 158 ground duels won was the 10th most. In addition he won possession in the midfield third 112 times, that ranking fifth, a metric topped by Kirian Rodriguez (130). 

 

Where required, the 28-year-old was an impressive shield for a Real Sociedad side that so often played in a 4-3-3 setup, a system that Arteta favours at the Emirates. Merino wasn't routinely the one to anchor the midfield, with Imanol Alguacil often using Martin Zubimendi in the central midfield berth, but Merino is a player clearly capable of operating as the deepest lying midfielder if used required to do so, at least off the ball anyway. 

 

The concerns stem from his distribution when he does win the ball. On the whole, Arsenal are a side that look to dominate teams. They finished 2023/24 sixth for possession (58.4%) and with the fifth best pass success rate (86.8%). Meanwhile, three of the four players that ranked top for pass accuracy were midfielders Rice, Partey and Jorginho, all of which were above 90%. By comparison, Merino maintained a pass success rate of just 77.5%. During his time with La Real, not once has that figure been above 80% in La Liga. 

 

The key quality of a holding midfielder is the ability to win the ball and recycle possession effectively, the latter of which Merino has not done to a high standard during his time with Real Sociedad. That's not to say that Arsenal should overlook the Spain international due to his sub-par return but it's a trait that must be rectified in order to adjust to the demands of Arteta. 

 

 

All things considered, Arteta may be looking to land Merino as the player to occupy the left central midfield position in the 4-3-3 setup, just as he does for Real Sociedad. The reason behind the signing of Havertz last summer was to play this role before the German was redeployed up front and Rice moved across to accomodate Jorginho at the base of the midfield. Stylistically, Merino is a better fit than Havertz to fill the midfield void left when Granit Xhaka departed for Bayer Leverkusen. 

 

Both Xhaka and Merino excelled with the freedom to push on to support the attack but have the positional awareness to ensure the defence isn't exposed. The latter has the desire the press high up the pitch, noted in that he won possession in the attacking third 21 times last season, that ranking 12th in La Liga, and this will certainly appeal to Arteta. 

 

That he is a physically dominating midfielder - Merino ranked top for aerial duels won per game (5.3) last season - will further help Arsenal repel direct attacking threats and provide an additional target from set-pieces, which you can be sure the Gunners will exploit. Reportedly available for as little as £20m, it's no surprise that Arteta is eyeing up a move for Merino this summer. As a player who can operate in a couple of different midfield roles, he could prove a solid addition to this Arsenal side provided he improves his distribution.

Who is Mikel Merino? The ball winning monster wanted by Arsenal