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News
Arsenal had ‘concerns’ about £32m signing in the summer but Mikel Arteta pushed through a deal anyway
Now their campaign is faltering under Mikel Arteta, a lot of Arsenal fans are now taking aim at last summer’s transfer window.
It was Edu Gaspar’s last while in charge of the club, and Arsenal spent around £100m on new players, also recouping a simi♛lar amount from player sales.
A chunk of the club’s expenditure꧙ was on David Raya given that his loan move was then made permanent by a clause included in his initial loan deal.
Otherwise, Arsenal parted with significant funds to sign Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino, two robust internationals who shone at the Euros, and were intended to improve the squad depth available to Arteta.
Neto and Raheem Sterling were also signed on d𝐆eadline day, however both only arrived on loan without an obligation to buy♕.
Mikel Arteta ignored doubts about signing Mikel Merino
Interestingly, in a report shared by , it’s now coming to l🅷ight that some at Arsenal actually had ‘concerns’ a🐓bout buying Merino in particular.
Arsenal fans have criticised Merino this season, especially following his recent efforts for the club, a midfielder who is accused of being slow on the ball and a yard behind his teammates💯.
READ MORE: David Ornstein shares what he’s been told about Arsenal signing Dusan Vlahovic from Juve🐟ntus
And whilst Merino deserves much more time to prove his quality, his a💜cquisition was already one that Arteta has somewhat had to defend internally.
According to the report, Arteta wanted the Spain international because of his doubts about both Kai Havertz and Declan Rice as the ♛club’s left-sided number eight.
However, Arsenal ‘debated the merits’ of si🍌gning Merin🦩o.
The club were concerned abo𝔍ut his age and the prospect of making any return in their investment in the 28-year-old.
However, Arteta’s belief in Merino ‘drove through’ explaining why a deal was executed to sign the midfielder from Real Sociedad fꦐor .
Arsenal still targeting more midfield additions
Of course, following the news that Arsenal are winning the race for Martin Zubimendi, it’s interesting to read that ✃Arteta has doubts about Rice as a number eight.
Many will imagine tꦉhat Zubimendi♏ will come in to play as Arteta’s number six, freeing up Rice to play in a more offensive role to utilise his running.
Rice isn’t world-class 🧔at receiving the ball on the turn as a six, but he does excel in a lot of the qualities required for someone playing one step further forward.
It surely has to be imagined that Arteta is envision꧂ing a strongest trio of Zubimendi🦂, Rice and Odegaard.
And perhaps that will just leave🧔 Merino playing a squad role, and should Arsenal also recruit a world-class striker ne🍬xt summer, there also isn’t necessarily a starting spot for Havertz, either.