Arsenal got their Premier League campaign off to the perfect start on the weekend but their work in the summer transfer window is anything but done. Mikel Arteta’s men will follow up their 2-0 win over Wolves with a trip to Aston Villa on Saturday, by which time more incomings and outgoings are expected to be finalised.
The Spaniard was coy when pressed on transfer speculation on Friday, insisting he is unable to comment on players from other clubs. But he also implied there would be more squad developments before the window closes on Augus
Mikel Merino
If any doubts still lingered over the potential of Mikel Merino going to Arsenal, they were all but washed away by Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil on Saturday. After excluding the Euro 2024 winner from the squad to face Rayo Vallecano, he admitted the decision was due to the likelihood of the player leaving.
“I’ve left Merino out of the squad as there are talks with other clubs, and this is the best solution now,” he said. “He was ready to help the team. We will see if he will be with us next week or not.”
Merino should be on a plane to north London this week as the two clubs close in on agreeing a fee.
Arteta will want the midfielder on board in time to be eligible for the trip to Villa Park. The fee is expected to be in the region of £29million, and with personal terms reportedly agreed, it would take a dramatic late twist for the deal not to go through this week.
Ivan Toney
If Merino being left out by Sociedad sparked interest from Arsenal fans on the weekend, then Ivan Toney being axed by Brentford would have had the north London faithful in an excited frenzy. After months of speculation linking the England striker to the Emirates, Thomas Frank’s decision was the clearest indicator yet that Arteta is about to land the proven Premier League goalscorer he craves.
It now appears inconceivable that Toney, 28, will again appear for the Bees. And maybe Arsenal chiefs will act quickly with a big money bid this week to prevent the saga dragging out any longer.
Aaron Ramsdale
Sealing the signing of Toney won’t come cheap with Brentford wanting a fee in the region of £70m. And Aaron Ramsdale appears a prime candidate to be one of the quick fire sales to help fund the deal.
Short of David Raya picking up a long-term injury, Ramsdale’s appearances in an Arsenal shirt seem set to be limited to cup action alone this season. The 26-year-old’s stock remains high enough for the Gunners to command a healthy fee, and with Southampton and Ajax linked with a swoop, a swift exit will now surely suit all parties concerned.
Eddie Nketiah
A move to Marseille may have broken down, but the fact Arteta was willing to sell Nkeitah in the first place speaks volumes about the 25-year-old’s standing in the squad. An unused substitute against Wolves, Nketiah is rumoured to be the subject of an imminent bid from Nottingham Forest.
Jakub Kiwior
At least both Ramsdale and Nketiah were deemed worthy of the bench against Wolves. Polish international Jakub Kiwior meanwhile, was left out of the squad altogether following the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.
With the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu also in front of him, the 24-year-old surely won’t want to still be hanging around come August 31. He is reportedly keen on a return to Italy after a previous stint with Spezia, a notion that Arsenal will surely seek to accelerate in the coming days.
