Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given an unwelcome injury update on Mikel Merino and delivered a deadline day plea as the Gunners look to secure a new signing before the transfer window closes
14:57, 02 Feb 2026
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Arsenal at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on January 31, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
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Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to remain active on deadline day(Image: OLI SCARFF, AFP via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has delivered an important Arsenal transfer deadline day assessment following Mikel Merino's injury setback. The Gunners have been hunting the market for a midfielder since early last week after discovering he would need surgery on a foot problem.
A club statement over the weekend revealed: "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.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: Mikel Merino of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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Mikel Merino requires surgery on a foot injury(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
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"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 possible activity following that setback, the Arsenal manager commented: "Of course. I mean, when you lose a big player like this in the squad with four months to go and all the competitions to play for, you need to look and we need to do everything that we possibly can to see if we have a player that is available. And if we don't, we keep what we have.
"At this level, especially for four months, you have to be a player that has the capacity to adapt immediately and impact the team. That's not easy. But if it were easy, we wouldn't be here. So, we need to find solutions and try."
PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 28: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United FC at Parc des Princes on January 28, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by George Wood - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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Arsenal are weighing up a deadline day move for Sandro Tonali(Image: George Wood - UEFA, UEFA via Getty Images)
Providing an injury update on the Spaniard, Arteta added: "He needs to go through a procedure which is never positive. He is a big player for us. It's a big blow. Yes [It's a fracture]. Let's see, it's a very rare injury. We will have to keep monitoring it."
Bringing back Ethan Nwaneri from his loan spell at Marseille was touted, but that remains off the table for the Gunners. Speculation linking them with Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali then surfaced, but that appears highly improbable.
Ruben Neves also appeared as a possibility but that represents another deal unlikely to materialise with the midfielder poised to pen fresh terms at Al Hilal.
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Potential additions in attack also seemed feasible after Bukayo Saka also picked up an injury in the past week, but there is considerably more squad depth in that area and it appears far less severe which makes it doubtful Arsenal will pursue an attacker.
On Saka, Arteta said: "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 stepped up brilliantly for Saka at Elland Road, netting a goal and providing an assist in the 4-0 thrashing of Leeds United. But the expectation will be that he won't be sidelined for an extended period, particularly with Arsenal - as Arteta correctly highlights - still fighting on four different fronts.