Arsenal’s deadline-day thinking has been thrown into chaos by the injury to Mikel Merino, with the midfielder expected to miss a significant portion of the remainder of the season.
For Arsenal, losing Merino is about far more than just one position. He has shown tactical flexibility, capable of filling in as a false nine, operating between the lines as an attacking midfielder, or offering control and bite deeper in midfield. Finding a like-for-like replacement this late in the window is close to impossible.
That reality leaves Andrea Berta with a familiar January dilemma. With just one day left in the market, Arsenal’s primary long-term targets are unlikely to be available, forcing the club to think creatively and pragmatically. Any move now would be about mitigating risk rather than transforming the squad. Arsenal also allowed Ethan Nwaneri to join Marseille on loan earlier this month, further diminishing numbers in midfield.
So how should Arsenal address it?
One short-term option is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The former Arsenal man has been training with the club for over a month and remains without a team. While questions around his fitness and durability are impossible to ignore, this would not be a move designed to make him a regular starter. Instead, Oxlade-Chamberlain could provide senior cover and experience at very low cost, particularly useful in congested weeks where Arsenal simply need bodies on the bench who understand the club and its demands.
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A more forward-looking alternative is Breno Bidon, the 20-year-old midfielder from Corinthians. Arsenal have tracked Bidon for some time and initially viewed him as a future investment rather than an immediate solution. Merino’s injury could accelerate those plans. While expecting instant impact would be unrealistic, Bidon offers energy, technical quality and developmental upside, potentially allowing Arsenal to bring forward a deal they already believe in.
The most internal and arguably most sensible solution may be Myles Lewis-Skelly. With Piero Hincapié and Riccardo Calafiori both fit again, Lewis-Skelly’s minutes at left-back have dried up. Originally developed as a midfielder, refocusing his role centrally could offer Arsenal a familiar, tactically coached option who understands the system and can contribute immediately.
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None of these options truly replace Merino’s unique profile, but deadline day is rarely about perfection. For Arsenal, it will be about staying adaptable, protecting depth, and ensuring the squad can cope with the demands of the run-in despite a frustrating and untimely injury setback.