Arsenal have been hit with a significant blow as David Ornstein has revealed that Mikel Merino is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.
The Spain international has a suspected broken bone in his foot and now looks poised to watch on from the stands for the club's title charge in the Premier League.
Mikel Merino for Arsenal
It is a big blow for the Gunners because he has played 77 matches in all competitions for Mikel Arteta since his move from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2024.
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The former Newcastle United central midfielder has shown that he has a handy knack for finding the back of the net, with 15 goals in those 77 games, including four in the Premier League this season.
Ornstein claimed that Arsenal are looking at possible short-term loan signings to come in and replace the Spanish star, in reaction to this injury.
Arsenal in talks to sign Merino replacements
It had been claimed that the Premier League leaders were in talks to sign Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali to bolster their options in the middle of the park.
Sandro Tonali Newcastle
Any notion of a deal for the Italy international has since been dismissed, though, as the Mapgies have no plans to lose one of their key players in the final hours before the deadline.
According to reporter Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are in late talks to sign Bayern Munich central midfielder as a replacement for Mikel Merino today.
The journalist claims that the Gunners have made enquiries about a deal to bring the Germany international to The Emirates before the deadline passes tonight.
leon-goretzka-transfer-gossip-manchester-united-bayern-munich-jude-bellingham-ten-hag
Goretzka is set to leave Bayern in the summer when his contract at Allianz expires, but representatives have discussed a potential deadline day move to Arsenal to move his exit from the Bavarian giants forward five months.
It is now down to the Gunners to reach an agreement with Vincent Kompany's side to convince them to part ways with the midfielder early, whether that is on a loan or permanent deal.
Why Arsenal should push to sign Leon Goretzka
The Premier League leaders should push to get a deal done for the German central midfielder before the deadline because he would be a dream replacement for Merino.
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Arteta is looking to win his first Premier League title with the club and signing a serial winner who can add some real quality to the group could be the little boost that Arsenal need to get over the line in the coming months.
It is fair to say that Goretzka knows a thing or two about winning trophies. The experiened midfielder has won 14 trophies during his time in Bavaria, winning six Bundesliga title, and possibly seven if he stays until the end of this season.
The 30-year-old star has only scored one goal in the Bundesliga so far this term, but his highlights from the 2024/25 Bundesliga season in the video above show why he would be a like-for-like replacement for Merino.
Like the injured Arsenal star, Goretzka is a tough-tackling midfielder who can also chip in with goals throughout a season, which means that he could be the perfect signing to take Merino's place in the squad.
|Goretzka's goals per season|
|Season|Goals|
|---|
|24/25|6|
|23/24|6|
|22/23|6|
|21/22|3|
|20/21|8|
|19/20|8|
|18/19|9|
|Average|6.6|
|Stats via Sofascore|
As you can see in the table above, the Bayern star has averaged between six and seven goals per season across the last seven full campaigns for the club in all competitions.
This suggests that he has the quality and know-how to provide a goal threat for Arsenal in the run-in for the Premier League title, to replace the threat that Merino provides in that area of the pitch.
Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry-1
On top of that, Goretzka has also won 59% of his ground duels in the Bundesliga for Bayern in the 2025/26 campaign, whilst Merino has won 51% of his in the Premier League, as a combative midfielder.
The German star, who was hailed as a "machine" by Aleksandar Pavlović, could offer a similar, or possibly greater, presence in midfield as an enforcer, getting about the pitch to win duels and disrupt play for the Gunners.
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Spurs are keen on a new forward.
Therefore, Goretzka could be a fantastic signing as a dream replacement for Merino given his experience, quality, and defensive work in midfield.