Arteta on whether Arsenal could sign someone before transfer deadline following Merino injury blow | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has not ruled out Arsenal turning to the transfer market following a significant injury to Mikel Merino.

Merino could miss the rest of the season after suffering a fractured bone in his foot which requires surgery.

And asked if the injury blow changes the Gunners’ plans before Monday’s 7pm deadline, Arteta said: “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. 

“But we know particularly now with his versatility and his abilities, his importance to the squad, not just any player is going to do it, it’s got to be someone really special.

“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 but if it was easy we wouldn’t be here so we need to find solutions and try.”

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Asked if he was relaxed about the situation with just a few hours to go until the deadline, Arteta responded: “I wouldn’t say relaxed, I think we are on it, and it’s our responsibility when we are playing for what we are playing, to give ourselves the best opportunity and chance to look at the market, every option, evaluate them, and then make a decision whether we do something, if it’s possible.”

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