Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino will undergo surgery on a foot injury with the Gunners boss giving an update on his side's plans for deadline day
Mikel Arteta after Arsenal's 4-0 defeat of Leeds United
Mikel Arteta has given an update on Arsenal's transfer deadline day plans(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Mikel Arteta has delivered an Arsenal transfer deadline day assessment following Mikel Merino's injury blow. The Gunners have been exploring the market for a midfielder since early last week after discovering he would need an operation on a foot problem and could make a move before the transfer window shuts at 7pm on Monday.
A club announcement over the weekend stated: "Further to sustaining a foot injury towards the end of our game against Manchester United on January 25, subsequent assessments and specialist reviews have confirmed Mikel Merino has a bone injury in his right foot.
"Mikel will have surgery in the coming days and will then begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme."
"Mikel is expected to be out of action for an extended period, with the aim of returning to full training before the end of the season. Everyone is fully focused on supporting Mikel to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible."
Regarding potential activity following that setback, the Arsenal manager said at a press conference on Monday: "Of course. When you lose a big player in the squad when you're in four competitions you need to do everything you can to see if someone is available. If not, we move on."
Providing an update on the Spaniard, Arteta continued: "We hope so. He needs to go through a procedure which is never positive. He is a big player for us. It's a big blow.
"Let's see, it's a very rare injury. We will have to keep monitoring it."
Bringing back Ethan Nwaneri from his Marseille loan was mooted, but that remains off the table for the Gunners reports football.london. Speculation around Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali then surfaced, though that appears highly improbable.
Ruben Neves also cropped up as a possibility but that represents another transfer unlikely to materialise, with the midfielder poised to pen fresh terms at Al Hilal.
Prospective attacking reinforcements also seemed feasible following Bukayo Saka's injury in recent days, but there's considerably greater squad depth in those positions and it appears far less severe, making it doubtful Arsenal will pursue an attacker.
Bukayo Saka before an Arsenal game
Bukayo Saka picked up an injury before Arsenal's 4-0 win at Leeds(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
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Regarding Saka, Arteta commented: "We have to wait. Today he was better, but we have to see how he responds and make a decision.
"It doesn't look like something too serious, whether he's available for tomorrow or the weekend we will see."
Noni Madueke deputised brilliantly for Saka at Elland Road, bagging a goal and assist in the 4-0 triumph over Leeds United. Nevertheless, the expectation will be that he's not sidelined for an extended period, particularly with Arsenal - as Arteta correctly emphasises - still battling across four separate tournaments.