Edu departs the UK to finalize a significant signing for Arsenal, which bodes well for Havertz – analysis
In just three days, Arsenal will commence their Premier League campaign at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with a singular goal in mind: to break their 20-year title drought.
Mikel Arteta’s squad has come agonizingly close for the past two seasons, and following a strong preseason, they seem more prepared than ever.
Nonetheless, supporters are eager for the club to secure additional signings before the transfer window closes in a few weeks, enhancing their chances of claiming the trophy in May.
Fortunately, it seems that the fans’ desires will be met, as Edu Gaspar and his team are nearing an exciting new addition that will aid in maximizing Kai Havertz’s potential.
Arsenal transfer news
A recent update from David Ornstein of The Athletic indicates that Arsenal is intensifying their pursuit of Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad this summer.
Ornstein reports that Edu has traveled to Spain this week to negotiate with the Basque club, and the player is eager to make the move, with personal terms likely to be straightforward.
While the exact transfer fee remains undisclosed, earlier reports suggested it could be approximately £25 million.
Although this is a considerable sum, given Merino’s performances for both Sociedad and the Spanish national team, it appears justified.
Acquiring him this summer could also facilitate Kai Havertz’s integration into the squad.
Why Merino will assist in unlocking Havertz
While Merino may not be the type of midfielder known for delivering incisive passes to the forwards alongside Martin Odegaard, his inclusion in the team is vital for unlocking Havertz’s potential.
The key factor here is simply his presence on the pitch.
Engaging with any group of Arsenal supporters regarding the German player’s performance last season will reveal a common sentiment: he began the season slowly but finished strongly, with these contrasting phases closely linked to his positioning under Arteta.
In the first half of the season, he was assigned to fill Granit Xhaka’s role as a left-eight.
While he was not poor, his contributions were lackluster, managing only six goals in 32 matches, which translates to a goal involvement approximately every 5.33 games.
However, his transition to the number nine position in the latter part of the season marked a significant turnaround.
In just 18 matches as the club’s center-forward, he netted eight goals and assisted seven times, achieving an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.2 games in this role.
Despite his remarkable performance in the forward position, the former Chelsea player has participated in several preseason matches in midfield this summer, which has disappointed some fans.
Nevertheless, with the addition of the Sociedad star to the squad, it is less likely that he will be utilized in midfield during competitive fixtures.
This is particularly relevant as he spent the majority of last season operating in central midfield for La Real, with 38 of his 40 starts occurring in that eight position.
Additionally, he has made a remarkable impact in his position, showcasing his offensive skills with a total of eight goals and five assists across 45 matches.
He has also proven his defensive capabilities, being the sole player in Europe’s top seven leagues to surpass 300 duels last season, with a total of 326.
Furthermore, Arteta has been eager to acquire the Spanish “monster,” as data analyst Ben Mattinson referred to him, throughout the summer, following his impressive performances for Sociedad and the Spanish national team.
It is unlikely that he will alter his strategy at the Emirates to fit a player who excels primarily as a centre-forward.
Consequently, although the negotiations for this transfer have taken some time, securing Merino for Arsenal this summer appears to be an excellent decision.
Not only will he enhance the quality in midfield, but he will also allow Havertz to stay in a more suitable forward position.
