Arsenal's Urgent Mission: Finding Mikel Merino's Perfect Replacement After Crushing Injury Blow
Mikel Arteta is counting on his Arsenal squad's depth to provide necessary protection against injury concerns during their Premier League title pursuit.
Arsenal's squad depth has faced early examination in what many considered a pivotal campaign for Arteta's vision. Some believed this represented a make-or-break moment for the Spanish manager following five trophy-less seasons, and the club certainly acted decisively during the summer transfer window to address squad deficiencies.
Consequently, the Gunners have successfully navigated injuries to Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel, maintaining competitive positions across four competitions. Nevertheless, challenges are inevitable as Arsenal pursue success, and Mikel Merino's serious foot injury requiring surgical intervention may represent the first significant hurdle Arteta's team must overcome in the season's latter stages.
With insufficient time to acquire a temporary replacement during the January window, here's how Arteta might address Merino's absence using existing squad resources.
Kai Havertz Reversion
Kai Havertz Reversion
"Kai possesses exceptional quality. He offers tremendous versatility and demonstrates high football intelligence. He will contribute significant additional strength to our midfield and bring diversity to our gameplay," Arteta commented when Kai Havertz joined in 2023, indicating he envisioned the German as a potential successor to Granit Xhaka.
Havertz initially appeared uncomfortable in the position Xhaka had perfected the previous campaign, leading Arteta to eventually abandon his original plan for the former Chelsea player during winter. A crucial late goal at Brentford in November demonstrated his knack for finding space behind defensive lines, and Havertz subsequently began operating alongside Gabriel Jesus.
His transformation into Arsenal's primary striker was considerably more progressive than Merino's development, and his excellent form during that season's conclusion persuaded the club to forgo summer reinforcements in that position.
However, circumstances have shifted significantly since Havertz returned from a knee problem that sidelined him for most of 2025. Arteta now has Gabriel Jesus available and Viktor Gyökeres scoring consistently, meaning Havertz, who's being gradually reintroduced, faces intense competition for forward positions.
While Merino has occasionally featured as a striker this campaign, most of his contributions have come in midfield roles. Perhaps Havertz will be positioned deeper to compensate for the Spaniard's unavailability, finally realizing the role Arteta envisioned three years earlier. Havertz, similar to Merino, isn't a natural playmaker and can seem awkward in tight spaces, but he provides physical presence, can drift into scoring positions and excels in aerial battles.
Trust the Mavericks
Trust the Mavericks
When Arsenal encounter difficulties, which has been infrequent this season, Arteta frequently faces intense criticism for his substantial set-piece dependency, focus on physicality and perceived conservative approach in open play situations.
The Gunners manager, despite being an accomplished coach, appears less enthusiastic about unpredictable creative players. Ødegaard was previously central to his team's identity, but the captain's impact is waning. Saka remains exceptional yet somewhat systematic in his play, while Eberechi Eze has offered minimal contribution beyond his North London Derby hat-trick.
Ethan Nwaneri might have been positioned for increased playing time before his loan move to Marseille last month, so Arteta may need to rely on his in-form creative talent during Merino's absence. Could this be the moment for the Arsenal manager to embrace the flair players within his structured system?
Eze's warm Emirates reception in August represented a poignant homecoming, but the Englishman's inaugural north London campaign hasn't matched the transformative expectations. He hasn't proven to be the missing component, nor convinced Arteta to adopt a more fluid approach, but opportunities remain for Eze to make his mark. Last season at this time, he flourished for Crystal Palace, driving them to memorable heights.
Trust the process, Mikel.
The Left-Field Choice
The Left-Field Choice
Barring any significant tactical restructuring, Arsenal's midfield will typically feature Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi working together. The remaining position remains contested: Ødegaard was the automatic choice for years, Eze seeks the manager's confidence and Havertz might find himself in central areas, considering Arsenal's attacking alternatives.
However, Arteta has another option to evaluate.
Myles Lewis-Skelly's remarkable emergence at left-back might have overshadowed his natural midfield background. This explains his smooth adaptation to the inverted role for both club and country, with his central area comfort evident.
He's seen reduced opportunities this season, with Piero Hincapié claiming his playing time, but Arteta, who trusted the youngster enough for his breakthrough, might utilize the determined academy product as a midfield rotation option during Merino's recovery.
Lewis-Skelly cannot replicate Merino's aerial dominance or ground-based contributions, but the teenager possesses sufficient physicality and could help Arsenal progress upfield through his accurate passing in tight spaces and ability to maintain possession under pressure.