Mikel Merino’s Arsenal role and what it means for Declan Rice

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 1 Aug 2024 13:45 BST
• 20 min read

Mikel Merino will be the second major new face at Arsenal this summer, with the Spain international star to follow Riccardo Calafiori to the Emirates.

Merino is set to hook up with the Gunners for a fee of €30 million, with a deal reached with Real Sociedad for the 28-year-old midfielder.

What are the expectations for him at Arsenal, though, and how might he slot in beside the likes of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in Mikel Arteta’s midfield plans?

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Merino was used as an impact player off the bench for Spain at Euro 2024, but he was an indispensable starter at Real Sociedad last term, providing the Basque side with eight goals and five assists across all competitions.

At Arsenal, he will not be so integral. Data analytics experts SciSports indicate that he will join the club as their 15th-strongest player but one of the best pure midfield options. The expectation is that he will start with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in a 4-3-3 shape.

While the Norwegian will remain the chief creative force, the way Merino interacts with Rice promises to be interesting. The Englishman was cut free from the shackles he had at West Ham to become a strong offensive contributor last term, hinting that his new teammate’s defensive and passing qualities will be exploited.

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Equally, Merino occupied a spot to the left and more advanced than Martin Zubimendi at Sociedad, suggesting that Arsenal might see the best of him in the role Rice took up during the second half of last season. This would, of course, risk curtailing the overwhelmingly positive influence the England star has enjoyed in north London.

The pair, however, will be largely interchangeable. This has the advantage of giving Arsenal more flexibility in certain situations and will make them more unpredictable from middle to front.

Merino vs Rice: A comparison of playing styles

Merino was one of the top performing central midfield players in LaLiga last season, according to data analytics experts SciSports. Statistically, he finished just behind Real Madrid pair Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni, according to the firm.

Getting such a talent for the comparatively small fee of €30 million is, therefore, a win for Arsenal, particularly with the likes of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona also interested in the player.

The Gunners are paying above his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €21.8m, yet this figure deflates his true quality because there is only a year left to run on his contract with La Real.

Merino vs LaLiga midfielders: 2023/24

What are Merino’s strengths?

Merino's best numbers last season were from a defensive standpoint. He completed a high volume of tackles and clearances, while he won a staggering 5.99 aerial duels per game. Therefore, the addition of Merino aligns nicely with the purchase of the aforementioned Calafiori as Arteta attempts to physically dominant opponents next season.

The box-to-box nature of the Spaniard's game is typified by the fact that his pass completion last season was comparatively weak but that he posted high numbers both in terms of progressive passes received and touches in the attacking penalty box.

Furthermore, he attempted more tackles in the attacking third (18) than any other player in LaLiga, illustrating the high position he likes to take on the pitch.

Merino is a player who can thrive in transition offensively – see his goal for Spain against Germany for reference – but also dig in when required at the back.

In all likelihood, he will have a dual role next season and it will be interesting to see which one Arteta favours him in.

Will he become the pivot that sits to unleash Rice in a manner akin to last season, or will Arsenal chose to play to his box-to-box strengths and put his team-mate back on a tighter leash?