Arsenal's dream midfield as Sandro Tonali stance made clear and Mikel Merino decision madeMikel Arteta's Arsenal face an extended period without Mikel Merino after the midfielder broke a bone in his foot, prompting fresh transfer talkView 3 Images Mikel Arteta during Arsenal's win at Leeds (Image: OLI SCARFF, AFP via Getty Images)As Arsenal brace themselves for life without Mikel Merino for the foreseeable future, speculation about a frantic last-minute spending spree has intensified. ‌"Mikel will have surgery in the coming days and will then begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme," Arsenal confirmed in a statement. ‌The Gunners splashed the cash during the summer window, bringing in Martin Zubimendi, Ebere Eze and Christian Norgaard to bolster their midfield ranks. Beyond this, there's also a chance Arsenal will give midfield spots to a couple of players who usually play in other positions. ‌Kai Havertz has previously played as the most forward midfielder, whether at Arsenal or his former clubs Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen.

Source: Daily Mirror February 02, 2026 16:11 UTC