Mikel Merino - an uninspiring Arsenal link
The Spanish International is linked with a move to North London, does this make sense
I have created a new section here, because I want a section to comment on rumors at a bit more depth but don’t want to waste my time with big breakdowns before things are far enough along. I will aim to keep these at around 500 words and just start thinking about a player, how they fit with Arsenal and my general thoughts on the rumor.
With the Euros and the Copa America wrapping up and pre-season approaching fast the links with players are heating up.
Today’s link we are going to look at is Mikel Merino of Real Sociedad, with James McNicholas of the Athletic noting him as a target that would be of interest to Arsenal.
My initial impression of this link is that it is pretty meh.
Last season he looked pretty middle of the road for Sociedad, with the team as a whole really underperforming dropping from 4th and Champions League to 6th and the Europa League. With Arsenal heavily linked with Martin Zubimendi for the last year I watched a decent amount of Sociedad and never came away wowed by Merio’s performances in those times watching, generally thinking he was “solid” or “steady”.
His 2022-23 season looked better than his most recent one..
…but I think that looks like the outlier overall compared to his career and has some red flags that I don’t like.
He looks statistically like a player that belongs starting on a team in one of Europe’s “Big 5” Leagues but he looks short of the level needed to make the impact on a team that is challenging for a title.
Merino’s main strength is that he is an elite duel winner. He uses his big body and athletic ability to disrupt and beat players in midfield. We know Mikel Arteta like this kind of player but it seems more like this isn’t ideal for how I would imagine that you partner Declan Rice.
If Rice is going to play the more advanced left midfield position, I think it is best with a more deep lying playmaker role behind him rather than a duel first DM. In a perfect world you get a player to do both but that’s rare and maybe is just Rodri right now. Merino’s passing for his career has never shown that this is him, coming out as at best average to slightly above. I don’t think that is going to grow massively at 28 years old.
If you want Rice at the base of the three in midfield, I think you want a more attacking type player that can help overlap on the left and arrive in the box, while also adding secondary progression and creativity. Merino might be able to do some of this but it would take some projection and I don’t think he has the progression or creativity numbers that make me excited about this as a first choice.
I don’t think Merino is at a starter for a title challenging team level for either of these roles.
Bull Case: This is a market opportunity. Merino is in the last year of his deal, Arsenal can get him for a discount deal in the 15-20m Euro range and he’s on a modest 3+1 type contact with Arsenal. He is a rotation player coming in at the 60-75th minute of games to spell midfielders and help see out games. He provides nice depth and is more trusted than Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira have been in the last couple of seasons. He is one of two (or more) midfielders that Arsenal bring in this summer and helps raise the floor of the team.
It basically all comes down to price, right? 15-25 m Euro signing that provides rotation at both the 6 and 8 and helps close out games, as you said. Duel strength lets him play alongside Jorginho, mitigating passing concerns. Might help facilitate selling Partey.
Feels like an Arteta as "Unlimited Budget Dyche" move - dominant in the air, strong defensively both in block and in pressing. The lack of passing definitely isn't ideal, but Rice/Merino/Odegaard/Havertz pressing and adding Merino and Califiori into corner routines is pretty scary. Adds values for defend + counter games against City/Liverpool/UCL knockout rounds.
TLDR - if price is right, means Partey leaves, and is paired with an Eze/Doue/etc type signing, I think it raises our floor and could situationally raise our ceiling in the biggest games.
I might sound insane but from watching Real Sociedad last season I got the impression that their main objective is to stay in the right shape and keep the ball rather than create chances. Because the team as a whole is not focused on creating chanses, players don't progress the ball often, therefore it is harder for players to have good passing stats. With that said I agree that Merino is not at the required level, but still his passing might turn out to be better than expected from stats.