Arsenal have struck gold on “monster” who’s their best signing since Rice

Since taking the job as Arsenal supervisor, Mikel Arteta has made his justifiable share of dire signings.

The likes of Pablo Mari, Willian, Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira are some examples of gamers who both didn’t reside as much as expectations or have been simply poor once they performed.

Nonetheless, for all of the unhealthy, Arteta has additionally overseen loads of sensational signings, with Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and David Raya and maybe one of the best of the lot, Declan Rice, becoming a member of the membership beneath his stewardship.

The previous West Ham United captain has been sensational for the Gunners since his club-record transfer in the summertime of 2023, and now it could in all probability be honest to say one of many supervisor’s signings from final summer season has confirmed to be his greatest for the reason that Englishman.

How Arsenal’s summer season signings are getting on

So, it could be honest to say that total, the marketing campaign has been a combined one for the signings made final summer season, so earlier than we get to the participant in query, it is price going over how the others have fared, beginning with the worst of the lot: Raheem Sterling.

The Kingston-born star joined the membership on a season-long mortgage deal on switch deadline day, and whereas he instructed the followers they’d “see one of the best” of him, the exact opposite has been true to date.

For instance, in 24 appearances, the previous Manchester Metropolis monster has scored only a single purpose, which got here in opposition to League One Bolton Wanderers, and supplied 5 assists, which means he is averaging a purpose involvement each 4 video games.

It has been a extra optimistic yr for fellow summer season signing Riccardo Calafiori, who joined the membership from Bologna for round £42m, as when he is performed, he is seemed good and has a powerful tally – for a defender – of three objectives and two assists in 26 appearances to date.

Nonetheless, there was one vital downside, which is his health.

Thus far, the Roma-born worldwide has missed a whopping 24 video games for membership and nation thanks to a few knee accidents, one muscle damage and one calf damage, permitting Myles Lewis-Skelly to return in and make the left-back place his personal.

Apart from David Raya, who initially joined the membership on mortgage in 2023, and Neto, who barely performed, there was another senior signing made in the summertime, a signing that is likely to be Arteta’s greatest since Rice.

Arsenal’s greatest signing since Rice

So, with all the opposite signings from final summer season coated above, it ought to be no shock that Mikel Merino is the addition in query.

The Spanish worldwide joined Arsenal for round £31.6m in late August after what felt like a very protracted switch saga, however issues didn’t begin out effectively.

In cosmically poor luck, the European champion fractured his shoulder in his first coaching session with the membership and remained out of motion till the Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain on the primary of October.

Sadly, his luck did not enhance a lot over the approaching months as he struggled to claim himself within the staff and, in consequence, discovered himself continuously out and in of the beginning lineup, which understandably made it laborious for him to ascertain any kind of rhythm or consistency.

Nonetheless, issues took a flip for the surprising in February, as accidents to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus left the Gunners with no acknowledged quantity 9, so after a fairly paltry first 70 minutes of goalless motion away to Leicester Metropolis, the Spaniard was thrown on to steer the road.

In some way, although he had admitted to by no means taking part in there earlier than, the previous Actual Sociedad ace seemed proper at residence, scoring a superb header after which slotting residence one other to safe the North Londoners all three factors.

Since then, the 28-year-old “mentality monster,” as dubbed by podcaster Matt Kendala, has scored one other 4 objectives so as to add to his two assists, and following his distinctive strike in opposition to Actual Madrid, it is laborious to think about that the membership are nonetheless formally with no match centre-forward within the staff.

The Pamplona-born game-changer has been listening to his tune sung by the followers increasingly more in current weeks, and if he retains on producing in the best way he’s, Kendala’s declare that he is “approaching cult standing” will undoubtedly be confirmed appropriate.

Finally, whereas he is not on the identical degree because the Englishman, it could be laborious to disclaim that, because of his performances of late, Merino is certainly Arteta’s greatest signing since Rice in 2023.