There have been several claims this season suggesting that Arsenal have not just the best squad depth in the Premier League, but perhaps across Europe too.
They've needed it as well. It speaks volumes about just how good the Gunners have been despite some of the injuries they've been on the end of across the season.
Mikel Arteta's side have already endured a defensive injury crisis that has seen most of the backline suffer problems at some stage in 2025/26.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts
Gabriel Magalhaes missed a few months, while William Saliba, Jurrien Timber, Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori have all had their own issues at different points throughout the campaign.
Couple that with regular injuries to Bukayo Saka and across the frontline, and it's remarkable they sit top of the Premier League and ended the league phase of the Champions League in first place.
Unfortunately, they have suffered another injury and it's not good news for Mikel Merino.
The latest on Mikel Merino's injury situation
While the Spaniard's current campaign has not been quite as explosive as it was in 2024/25, he's still been a very valuable member of the squad. Thus, to lose him for an extended period of time is a big blow.
Merino missed out on the matchday squad for their visit to Elland Road at the weekend, a game they won 4-0, and post-match it was confirmed that the midfielder had suffered a foot injury.
Merino-Arsenal
It's a serious one too. He's fractured a bone that now requires surgery and while there is a hope that he can play a part towards the back end of the season and travel to the World Cup with Spain, it's unlikely we'll see him in action again for a good couple of months.
While there is never a good time for an injury, this blow undoubtedly came at one of the worst possible times. Ethan Nwaneri had already been loaned to Marseille just weeks earlier and the recruitment team had just days to react before the transfer window slammed shut.
They did reportedly try their best to get something over the line. Arteta admitted in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Chelsea game that they were exploring all eventualities on deadline day.
The manager said: "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."
Ultimately, nobody arrived. Talks were reportedly held over a deal to sign Sandro Tonali and there has even been chatter that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is currently training with the club while he searched for a new side, could pen a six-month deal to the end of the campaign.
Oxlade-Chamberlain-Arsenal-training
The more likely situation is that Arsenal rely on what they already have.
Arsenal's Mikel Merino solutions
To lose Merino is a huge blow. His adaptability, leadership and indeed his versatility have been game-changing for Arsenal over the last year.
It was around a year ago when the 29-year-old became a key figure but it was not as a midfielder, the position he was signed to play in. No, it was a striker where the former Real Sociedad man thrived, ending 2024/25 with nine goals and five assists in 44 appearances. Six of those goals and three of those assists came in 12 matches as a centre-forward. He genuinely became an elite number 9.
That said, this season has seen Merino revert to his more traditional position and that's where Arsenal will need to find a solution to his minutes.
Fortunately, they do have options, even if Nwaneri is now out on loan. Kai Havertz has returned with a bang and could play in that role, while there is a feeling that once he returns from his own injury layoff, Max Dowman could be given a role in midfield.
There is another option from Hale End, however, and that's young Ife Ibrahim. Who? You may well ask that, but it won't be long before we see the 18-year-old become a more household name.
Ife-Ibrahim-Arsenal
He signed his first professional contract in the final few days of January and to cap off what was undoubtedly the best week of his life, he made his first team debut in the dying embers of Arsenal's 3-2 win over Kairat Almaty in the Champions League eight days ago.
So, what's all the fuss about? Well, take one look at the teenager and one thing stands out immediately: his height. Standing at over 6 feet, Ibrahim has towered over his opponents at youth level and his physical stature means he's already well-suited to senior football.
Ife Ibrahim - Arsenal stats
Age group
U18s
U21s
UEFA Youth League
Senior team
Some have described Ibrahim as a 'Declan Rice regen' and it's easy to see why. We'll let Arsenal academy expert, Will Balsam, give you the lowdown. Taking to social media back in August 2025, he wrote: "The way Ibrahim plays the game seems effortless. He eats up space, recovers the ball, and glides past players with ease."
That certainly sounds a lot like Rice, doesn't it? We don't want to put too much pressure on the young midfielder's shoulders, but behind Dowman and Marli Salmon - who have both made first-team debuts this term - he would appear to be Arsenal's next great hope out of Hale End.
Of course, it is unlikely Ibrahim receives many minutes considering Arsenal are in the hunt for a title, but Merino's injury opens up a gap in the squad for one of their Hale Enders to become a solution.
Merino-Arsenal Related
He has 35 England caps: Arsenal could sign post-deadline Merino replacement
Arsenal have been dealt an injury blow to Mikel Merino.