'A bit of everything': ESPN pundit names the current Arsenal player who will benefit most from Mikel Merino transfer

Mikel Merino has finally agreed a deal to sign for Arsenal, bringing an end to a saga that lasted nearly a month.

The Gunners are set to part with £31.8m to complete the signing, with Merino scheduled to have his Arsenal medical imminently after agreeing terms on a four-year contract.

Mikel Arteta has finally got his man, as the Spaniard becomes his second signing of the summer after Riccardo Calafiori.

And Craig Burley believes Merino’s impending arrival will bring the best out of Declan Rice at Arsenal.

Craig Burley explains how Mikel Merino transfer will affect Declan Rice

Primarily a left-footed midfielder, Burley drew comparisons between Merino and Granit Xhaka, who left the club last summer to join Bayer Leverkusen.

“He does a bit of everything. He’ll get forward, he can defend, he can tackle and he’s got a tidy left foot,” Burley said to ESPN UK.

“He’s not a direct replacement for Granit Xhaka but he’s going to play on that side of the middle of the park. For that money, he’s a good addition to the team.”

Burley also believes Merino’s all-action ability will ease the burden on Rice in the centre of the park.

He continued: “He gives Declan Rice another person in the middle of the park. Not only will another player get into the box, but he’ll put his foot in as well.

“Thomas Partey had a lot of injuries and Jorginho is a bit limited in terms of getting around the field, so this is a good signing.”

What Merino would bring to Arsenal

Arsenal view Merino as an ‘opportunistic signing’ and believe they are getting him for a fee below his market value as his contract with Real Sociedad runs out next summer.

His underlying numbers make him a perfect fit for Arsenal’s midfield.

Since his Real Sociedad debut in 2018, no player in Europe’s top-five leagues has won more duels than Merino (1663), with the 28-year-old also ranking eighth for possession won (1321) and 15th for tackles (415).

Merino would add another dimension to Arsenal’s midfield and his arrival could allow Arteta to rotate Martin Odegaard and Rice, who pretty much played every game last season.

What next for Arsenal after signing Merino?

Arsenal want to sign Joan Garcia before the transfer deadline, but any deal for the Spanish goalkeeper is likely to depend on Aaron Ramsdale’s future.

The Englishman struggled for game time last season and is reportedly open to a departure before the transfer deadline.

Wolves are interested in signing Ramsdale but want an initial loan deal, with Arsenal unwilling to agree to that currently.

The Gunners will keep an eye on how things pan out in the coming days but are likely to dip into the market for reinforcements only if some of their existing options leave.

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