Arteta responds to links to midfielder following Merino injury | OneFootball

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has not ruled out signing former midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a permanent deal.

The 32-year-old has been training with Arsenal’s youngsters to keep himself fit while he looks to find a new club.

He last played for Besiktas, but has been without a team since leaving the Turkish club last year.

Arteta earlier said the club were looking at their options in the transfer market following a serious injury suffered by Mikel Merino, who could miss the rest of the season with the Spaniard needing surgery on his foot.

“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,” the Gunners boss said.

“It’s just the fact you want to make the right call with the right player because we really want to improve the team if we can. If not, we don’t do it.”

And asked if he could opt to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain, who spent six years at the Gunners between 2011 and 2017, on a permanent basis, Arteta replied: “We explore every option.”

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