How £32million Mikel Merino will revolutionise Arsenal midfield and give Declan Rice new lease of life in different role

MIKEL ARTETA is hoping to yet unleash his caged carnal this week.

Arsenal person been coping with a midfield wounded situation successful the aboriginal weeks of this play aft skipper Martin Odegaard’s ankle wounded portion connected planetary work past month.

But the existent footwear successful the teeth was the stroke for £32m summer accomplishment Mikel Merino – breaking a bony successful his enarthrosis successful his precise archetypal grooming league astatine London Colney successful precocious August.

Signed from Real Sociedad with a estimation arsenic 1 of Europe’s astir feared duel monsters, the Spanish midfielder was sidelined aft losing a collision with caller teammate Gabriel.

As a result, the likes of Thomas Partey and Jorginho person been forced to transportation the bulk of the workload successful an aggravated play that saw Arsenal question to Tottenham and Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta volition beryllium without Merino for tonight’s Champions League clash with PSG, but helium has been pictured backmost successful afloat grooming and is targeting making the squad for Arsenal’s Prem outing astatine location to Southampton connected Saturday.

Arteta said recently: “We are trying to support him successful the cage.

"Because he’s been pushing everyone — the physios, the doctors, everybody — and he’s acceptable to go.

“He truly wants it. We are comfy exposing him with interaction and helium looks truly bully successful training.”

What volition helium bring?

Despite his frustratingly ironic wounded successful an aerial conflict with Gabriel, what Merino volition bring chiefly is simply a dominance some successful the aerial and with shot astatine feet successful the mediate of the pitch.

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The 28-year-old won 326 duels past play – the astir of immoderate subordinate successful Europe’s apical 5 leagues, with 168 of them coming successful the air.

Standing astatine 6ft2, his usefulness astatine set-pieces successful onslaught and defence and crosses would besides person been cardinal for Arteta erstwhile recruiting the subordinate for his squad.

Those who watched Spain astatine the Euros this summertime would person seen this archetypal manus arsenic Merino headed successful an extra-time victor to sound retired hosts Germany successful the quarter-finals.

But Merino is not conscionable midfield muscle. His method quality and quality volition besides beryllium connected show. Arteta added: “He’s going to bring archetypal an unbelievable football brain.

“He’s truthful intelligent, the mode helium decides, helium occupies spaces, helium makes decisions.

"It’s precise uncommon to spot that. And he’s a precise talented player, successful each signifier — defending, attacking.

“He tin bash things that complement truly good the prime we person successful midfield. Physicality, for sure, and past he’s a large threat.

“The infinitesimal that he’s successful the opponent’s box, you’ll spot that he’s a big, large threat.”

Merino has already proven himself to beryllium a sociable squad subordinate disconnected the pitch, attending David Raya's day enactment alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus conscionable weeks aft his enarthrosis injury.

WHERE WILL HE PLAY

Merino is multi-faceted erstwhile it comes to the relation helium volition play successful Arteta’s midfield.

When needed, Merino tin slot successful astatine the antiaircraft basal of the three, allowing Odegaard and Declan Rice to play successful much precocious positions.

But being left-footed, helium tin besides play arsenic a marauding 8 – akin to Rice – truthful gives Arteta plentifulness of options for squad selections and mid-game alterations.

It volition besides springiness Partey and Jorginho – some successful their 30s and lacking the legs to play aggregate 90-minute games successful a week – the accidental for a rest.

With everyone backmost fit, Arsenal’s seat volition abruptly look incredibly steadfast and afloat of extent and prime with Merino, Rice, Odegaard, Partey and Jorginho to take from.

And let’s not hide the acquisition and cognition Merino tin walk connected to Arsenal’s young stars, successful peculiar 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri who is inactive uncovering his feet successful the archetypal team.