Mikel Arteta provides update on Mikel Merino and Eddie Nketiah ahead of Aston Villa trip | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an update on two players ahead of the Premier League clash against Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Gunners had an impressive start to the campaign with a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka scored in each half.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta was posed with multiple questions and one of those was related to Mikel Merino, who is on the verge of joining the club.

He said live on Arsenal.com: “I cannot talk about any player that’s not with us. There’s still time in the market.”

When asked whether Merino’s transfer will be done soon, he added: “I don’t know, soon. The full focus is on the players that we have at the moment.”

Eddie Nketiah recently agreed personal terms with Nottingham Forest and talks are advanced between the clubs over the transfer package.

When pressed on the striker’s situation, Arteta said that he expects the club graduate to train and be prepared for the Midlands trip tomorrow.

Arsenal face a huge test of their title credentials against Villa. They had scoring opportunities in both games last term but failed to capitalise on them.

Arteta will be aiming for a better performance with more defensive awareness. Villa outclassed the Gunners with counter-attacking goals last season.

There could be a solitary change from the curtain-raiser against Wolves, with Oleksandr Zinchenko probably dropping to the bench for Jurrien Timber.