While Arsenal’s transfer deadline day was not too frantic, it did spark some drama in the last hours that we were not really expecting.
Indeed, after a big summer window, the plan was never to spend big or even spend at all over the winter.
The Gunners have what has been described as not just the best squad in the Premier League but potentially even in Europe, meaning finding a way to strengthen it was always going to be tricky.
That said, there was activity at London Colney. Remarkable reports emerged early on Monday that the Gunners had held talks to sign Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, although that was later confirmed to be conversations with the player’s agent. It’s a move that unsurprisingly didn’t happen.
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali-1
Why was Tonali’s name even mentioned? Well, Mikel Merino’s injury has not helped their case.
The latest on Mikel Merino's fitness
You get one man back and another gets injured. That seems to have been the unfortunate sequence of events following Arsenal this season.
With Kai Havertz now back - making his first league start of the season on Saturday - Merino has now replaced him on the treatment table.
Arsenal-Mikel-Merino
The Spaniard was nowhere to be seen in the match-day squad at Elland Road when Arsenal won 4-0 but it was soon confirmed that he has suffered a long-term foot injury.
Mikel Arteta confirmed that the former Real Sociedad midfielder has fractured a bone that will now require surgery. The hope is that he returns before the end of the season, but it’s unlikely that the Spain international plays much football before this summer’s World Cup.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game on Tuesday, it did look like Arsenal were open to signing a replacement during the final day of the window.
Talking to reporters, the club’s manager noted: "Of course. When you lose a big player [Merino] in the squad, with four months to go and all the competitions to play for, you need to do everything you possibly can to see if there is a player is available. If we don't, we keep what we have.
"At this level, especially for four months, you have to bring a player that has the capacity to adapt immediately and impact the team. That's not easy. If it would be, we wouldn't be here. We need to find solutions and try."
Mikel Merino by position at Arsenal
Position
Central midfield
Striker
Attacking midfield
Defensive midfield
While they did conclude any first-team business on Monday, there could still be a solution.
Arsenal's Mikel Merino solution
The Gunners may well have missed out on Tonali on deadline day but they do have a ready-made solution should Arteta and Co decide they need an extra body between now and the end of the season.
One such option could be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Yes; you read that right, the 32-year-old has been training with Arsenal in recent weeks as he aims to build up his fitness.
Oxlade-Chamberlain-Arsenal-training
Sold by the Gunners for £35m - which is still their record sale - he has both enjoyed an exciting yet torrid time since leaving the Emirates Stadium behind.
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While he won the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool, he went through the wringer with injuries before exiting Anfield in 2023. He signed for Besiktas on a free transfer, which even the player himself has admitted was a culture shock playing out in Turkey.
He began the season with Besiktas but at the end of August, the club agreed to terminate his contract and he headed back to England. The Ox is still without a club but has been training with Arsenal, both with the senior team and academy over recent weeks as he aims to build fitness and find another club.
Well, could he re-sign for Arsenal? Arteta was asked the question on Monday and he said they will explore every possibility.
For a short six-month spell, there are certainly worse solutions for the Gunners than a player with 35 England caps. Oxlade-Chamberlain is now 32 and while he initially broke through as a winger, he has now firmly established himself as a midfield player.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Arsenal stats (timeless)
So, if he did sign on the dotted line for one last dance with Arsenal, what could he bring to the team? Well, he may not possess the same duel-winning capabilities as Merino but he’s always been heralded for his ability to carry the ball forward with power, whether that be out wide or when playing through the middle.
He’s a dangerous player in transition and as we know, the England international can contribute effectively in the final third as well, scoring four times in 20 Super Lig games in his debut campaign with Besiktas. While he was never a regular scorer at Arsenal, his career-best year at Liverpool saw him find the net on eight occasions.
arsenal-liverpool-alex-oxlade-chamberlain-transfer
Is it time to roll back the years? It feels unlikely, but Arteta’s side could do with another body in midfield and wouldn’t it be nice to see the Ox potentially lift some silverware in Arsenal red?
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Arsenal were rumoured with signing Sandro Tonali on transfer deadline day.