Mikel Merino is facing a major setback at Arsenal after being pencilled in for surgery on a foot injury, leaving his season all but over.
The midfielder has been struggling with the problem and is now expected to go under the knife, with Arsenal bracing themselves for a lengthy spell without him at a key point of the campaign.
With Merino likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Mikel Arteta is now weighing up whether the club need to move in the market and make an emergency transfer addition to cover the gap in his squad.
Arsenal have already been careful with Merino’s workload since his arrival, but the latest development means Arteta’s options could be reduced significantly as the fixtures pile up.
A final decision on any potential transfer move will depend on the severity of the injury and the exact recovery timeline following the planned operation, but the club are now considering their next steps as they prepare for life without Merino.
