Following the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal have lastly secured their second summer time signing in Actual Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino.
However who’s the Spaniard, what is going to he deliver to the aspect and why is he costing (as much as) £32 million? Phil Costa reviews.
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“Why do Arsenal need to signal a 28-year-old who flopped at Newcastle six years in the past?” was a query posed on-line when preliminary whispers emerged relating to Mikel Merino. This is similar Mikel Merino who led that aspect for interceptions (2.3), possession regains (9.5) and passes tried per 90 (55.7) that season, whereas solely Mohamed Diamé (81.5%) had higher cross accuracy than his 79.8% – based on Opta Analyst.
The truth is, the membership and 1000’s of Geordies had been all determined to maintain him however there was a €12m launch clause included into his contract set for Basque golf equipment solely, which allowed Actual Sociedad a free run on the then 22-year-old. In keeping with Rafael Benitez who was supervisor on the time, he wouldn’t have joined the Magpies with out it.
The midfielder has gone about his enterprise pretty professionally within the six years since becoming a member of La Actual however that doesn’t have to be a foul factor. From breaking by and turning into an everyday starter at boyhood membership Osasuna, there have been courageous (and troublesome) steps to Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle in between, all experiences which have helped him turn out to be the all-action participant he’s at this time.
Merino has referenced the load of replicating his father at Osasuna, and the way Thomas Tuchel drilled the significance of the fundamentals into him at Dortmund regardless of struggling for minutes in Germany. Extra importantly, he spoke about how his time at Newcastle taught him methods to “take hits” and navigate “males with huge our bodies”, with Spanish soccer largely centred round techniques and appreciation for the ball.
326 – Mikel Merino gained extra duels (326) than every other participant throughout the large 5 European leagues in 2023-24, whereas solely Chris Ramos (174) gained extra aerials than Merino (168) in La Liga final time period. Combative. pic.twitter.com/DfnM8lYkBg
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 22, 2024
There’s just one place to begin when analysing Merino. We’ve all seen the numbers, we’ve seen the graphics; he’s a duel monster. Final season, he gained 326 duels – greater than every other participant throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues – which sounds spectacular till you realise that these numbers had been chump change. Since his Actual Sociedad debut in August 2018, he has gained extra duels (1663) than every other participant throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues.
The 28-year-old is an especially imposing determine, sturdy within the challenges, combative, and likes to be inside these shut quarters in midfield. He loves the scrap. That aspect of his recreation was formed in England and crucially, is ready to keep his bodily degree all through video games; utilizing his physique neatly to have interaction contact, draw fouls and swat gamers apart when bumping shoulder to shoulder.
He isn’t notably fast over lengthy distances however when lasered in on a unfastened contact or urgent set off, has a pleasant burst that surprises folks. Merino made extra tackles within the attacking third than every other La Liga participant final season (18) which additionally makes him a substantial counter-pressing risk, and an excellent match for a group who concentrate on forcing excessive turnovers – Arsenal tried extra photographs following excessive turnovers (70) than every other Premier League aspect final season.
The Spaniard can be freakishly dominant within the air. Regardless of Actual Sociedad normally preferring to construct possession by the traces, they’re by no means scared to play direct and Merino is a tactical unicorn in that sense. Just one midfielder (Raul Garcia – 10.7) competed in additional aerial duels than his 10.1 per 90 final season; whereas no person gained greater than his 6.1 per 90. That would are available in very helpful for a aspect who maximise their superiority within the air – each to flee a press and from set items.
He will also be efficient in open play: solely 4 midfielders throughout Europe scored extra headed targets than Merino (3) final time period, two of which (towards Mallorca and Cadiz) had been scored in a really comparable trend. Let’s simply say late runs to the again put up will likely be a factor.
🇪🇺 High 7 League midfielders with essentially the most aerial duels in 2023/24
Mikel Merino contested 110 (!) greater than second-place
Aerial specialist ✈️
👉 https://t.co/yLUnW97J90 https://t.co/DifoTwpsI9 pic.twitter.com/LozyJSPb7E
— DataMB (@DataMB_) June 6, 2024
So what about in possession? I wrote earlier this month that one of many causes Calafiori was signed, was to assist revamp a disconnected left-hand aspect and the Spaniard must also assist in that regard. Being a pure left footer helps to open up extra pure angles and passing lanes, whereas final season the gamers utilized in that position – Rice, Emile Smith Rowe and Leandro Trossard – most well-liked to return inside and slim the pitch.
There are legitimate considerations in regards to the high quality and precision of his passing – the Spaniard is a profession 77% (ish) cross completion man – in order that rings early alarm bells, however context round these numbers is essential.
He’s a flexible distributor, snug receiving in all thirds of the pitch and adapts his choice based mostly on what video games require in particular moments. As a rule, he likes to be a hub in midfield, drifting into area and bouncing one-touch wall passes between teammates. However there may be by no means any dallying on the ball. The midfielder could be very touch-efficient, and appears to play inside most three touches which ensures the sport strikes rapidly but additionally explains occasional giveaways.
His progressive passing numbers (5.91 per 90) had been a pleasant shock when wanting by the info, and once more, he’s at all times ready to spring a quick break in transition ought to runners be proactive forward of him – I’m taking a look at you, Martinelli. Merino is completely happy to welcome that duty of breaking groups open whether or not it’s a pale diagonal to change play, cultured chip down the road or cross between full again and centre again.
However the pace by which he likes to function additionally lets him down. The Spaniard is responsible of dashing within the last third and typically will get tunnel imaginative and prescient – choosing the runner he sees immediately – as an alternative of ready one or two seconds and seeing how play may develop. He will also be clunky, each by way of his touches when turning and when overhitting passes which draw gamers vast or onto their weaker foot. He might want to neaten up in these essential moments however it doesn’t really feel like a method situation, extra a persistence and consistency of execution situation.
Mikel Merino – Likelihood Creation (La Liga 22/23) pic.twitter.com/Ig0xr9Qmgo
— 91 (@91cheefv2) July 26, 2024
When Kai Havertz swapped Chelsea blue for Arsenal crimson final summer time, the thought of how the left eight position may evolve was an thrilling one. Beforehand it was Granit Xhaka who after years of enjoying behind the ball, was pushed forward of the ball and requested to use half areas, present extra objective risk and facilitate each the inversion of Oleksandr Zinchenko and direct working of Gabriel Martinelli.
It didn’t instantly click on with Havertz however the development was apparent. Particularly with a extra cell 9, he may arrive late within the field and burst in behind whereas additionally offering an aerial outlet and duel-winning skill in deeper areas. Satirically, Merino can be extra analogous to how Xhaka performed the position however with added perks of what Havertz brings – specifically aerial skill and power within the duel.
His arrival would additionally imply one other midfield shake up, with Declan Rice being moved to quantity six on a extra common foundation after spending the final six months as an eight. That provides Arsenal much-needed readability transferring ahead with Thomas Partey and Jorginho each out of contract subsequent summer time. There’s additionally potential for Merino to play alongside Rice in a extra typical pivot, whereas being snug to drop in and even sit for him once in a while.
Mikel Merino – 23/24@mikelmerino1 pic.twitter.com/KxMMxycKJA
— GM10 (@GM10Media) July 21, 2024
I made comparable conclusions when profiling Jorginho and Trossard eighteen months in the past, that regardless of Arsenal’s latest success being centred round youthful, extra thrilling recruits, you continue to want adults within the room. Each of these gamers got here in and made their worth recognized to the squad (and supervisor) in a short time, by way of their consistency and plug-and-playability – Merino falls into that class as effectively.
The 28-year-old was reportedly open to extending his Actual Sociedad contract however made it clear that if three particular golf equipment approached him, he would need to go away. Arsenal had been a kind of golf equipment. It is a big alternative for him personally and like every other participant, will want time to adapt to new teammates, directions and requirements. Rice and Ben White have each spoken in regards to the intense studying course of when becoming a member of Arsenal and managing waves of knowledge when enjoying below Arteta.
He gained’t seize the creativeness like another names linked this summer time, however there will likely be an expectation round Merino to return in and carry out straight away. The midfielder joins within the peak of his profession, with expertise, ambition and the increase of latest worldwide success behind him. It’s a signing for the right here and now, which brings a sense of ease and familiarity that’s typically misplaced in potential.
The respective developments of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly ought to have been thought-about as effectively, who is probably not able to contribute proper now however may very well be in two or three years, when Merino has hopefully finished his job.
Personally, the charge (€33m + €5m) feels barely heavy contemplating his age and contract size, however Actual Sociedad aren’t any mugs in the case of negotiating and knew that Arsenal had little time to pivot elsewhere so late within the window. But it surely’s fairly easy: these additional few million will likely be a non-factor if he is available in and delivers what’s wanted to assist push this group over the road.
In a squad already stacked with huge, useful, technically completed bastards; there may be definitely no hurt in including yet one more.
