August 18th 2024.
Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, is working hard to strengthen his team during this summer's transfer window. The Gunners are close to securing their third signing of the season, but it seems unlikely that they will be searching for a new striker.
Despite a relatively quiet transfer window, Arsenal did manage to bring in Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna and make David Raya's loan move from Brentford permanent. Arteta was not looking for a major overhaul of his squad after leading them to two consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League.
One player that Arteta has set his sights on is Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino. According to Spanish outlet AS, his move to Arsenal is just a matter of hours away. Merino, who has made over 200 appearances for Real Sociedad, was also a key player in Spain's Euro 2024 victory over the summer.
In fact, Merino has been left out of Sociedad's squad for their La Liga opener against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday as he finalizes his move to north London. When asked about Merino's absence, Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil explained that it was his decision and that negotiations were still ongoing.
While Arsenal is close to securing Merino's signature, they have also been linked with a new striker this summer. However, Arteta has hinted that the Gunners will not be making any moves in that department before the transfer window closes.
After Arsenal's 2-0 win over Wolves in their opening Premier League match, Arteta expressed his faith in his current strikers, including Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. He also mentioned that Leandro Trossard has played in that position before and that they have a variety of qualities in their attacking options.
Arteta was pleased with his team's performance against Wolves and highlighted their willingness to improve and their ability to adapt to different game situations. He also acknowledged that there will be better and worse days, but ultimately, their goal is to win in any context.
As the season progresses, Arteta will continue to work towards a title challenge, but he knows that the team must show their quality every day and in every game. Arsenal fans can expect to see a determined and adaptable team under Arteta's leadership.
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