Mikel Arteta confirms new Arsenal transfer plan after Mikel Merino injury blow | OneFootball

Gunners ‘actively looking’ for late signing on Deadline Day

But Merino will now miss an extended period with a foot injury after tests with a specialist revealed he required surgery.

Having already let Ethan Nwaneri leave on loan to Marseille, Arsenal's options in midfield have been reduced.

And Arteta says Arsenal are open to a late swoop on Deadline Day should the right opportunity emerge.

Mikel Merino is facing a spell on the sidelines

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Asked if Merino’s injury has changed Arsenal’s thinking over their transfer plans, Arteta said: “Of course. When you lose a big player like this in the squad, with four months to go and other competitions to play for, you need to look.

“We need to do everything that we possibly can to see if we have a player that is available. If we don't, OK, we keep what we have.

"At this level, especially for four months, you have to bring a player who has the capacity to adapt immediately and impact the team. That’s not easy but if it was easy we wouldn’t be here. We need to find solutions and try.”

The Arsenal boss continued: "We have more depth now but for seven months we haven’t had the depth because we had players out, like a lot of teams.

“We know the demands and the standards that we need. We need players because we play every two, three days.

“We are always active in every window that we have just in case something happens. We had the departure of Ethan as well to Marseille for the right reasons I believe for the club, player and team.

“The news of Mikel was very unexpected, especially for such a long time. So we are actively looking at options, we will continue to do that.”

Asked if he would be relaxed if Arsenal did not make a signing, Arteta said: "I wouldn't say relaxed. We are on it.

“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 and evaluate them, and then make a decision if we do something if it’s possible.”

Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is currently training with the club’s U21 squad and Arteta did not rule out signing the 32-year-old as a free agent.

“We explore every option,” Arteta said, smiling.

As Oxlade-Chamberlain does not currently have a club, Arsenal would not have to complete any deal for him before the end of the transfer window.

The Gunners are in talks with Hearts over a loan move for teenage striker James Wilson, though he would join up with the academy rather than the first-team squad.

On the outgoings front, Oleksandr Zinchenko has joined Ajax and young defender Maldini Kacurri has joined League Two side Grimsby Town on a permanent transfer.