Arsenal have moved swiftly to address a potential midfield crisis as they prepare for the upcoming North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur. The Gunners are facing the possibility of being without three key midfielders: Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard. This situation has prompted manager Mikel Arteta to consider a surprising £84 million transfer move in the upcoming January window.
Mikel Merino, who recently signed from Real Sociedad, suffered a shoulder injury during his first training session at Arsenal’s London Colney facility. This setback adds to Arsenal's woes, as Merino was expected to play a significant role in their midfield this season.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice will be unavailable for the derby after receiving a second yellow card in Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton just before the international break. Rice's suspension is a major blow for Arsenal, as he has been a key figure in Arteta’s midfield since joining the club.
To make matters worse, Martin Odegaard, the team's captain and creative linchpin, picked up an ankle injury during Norway's Nations League clash against Austria. The injury occurred when Odegaard was involved in a challenge with Austrian midfielder Christoph Baumgartner. While the extent of Odegaard’s injury is not yet known, it has left him doubtful for the crucial match against Spurs. The club is awaiting the results of his scans to determine the severity of the injury.
Given these circumstances, Arsenal is left with a depleted midfield just days before one of their most important fixtures of the season. With the transfer window closed until January, Arteta is limited in his options for reinforcing the squad. However, the club is reportedly wasting no time in planning for the future.
According to reports from CaughtOffside, Arsenal has shown serious interest in signing Valencia’s 21-year-old midfielder Javi Guerra. The young Spanish midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window, but the move did not materialize as Atletico instead signed Conor Gallagher from Chelsea.
Guerra, who has a €100 million (£84.3 million) release clause in his contract with Valencia, has caught the attention of several top clubs, including Aston Villa. The Spain Under-21 international has been a promising talent for Valencia, featuring in La Liga this season, although his recent appearances have mostly been as a substitute.
With his contract set to expire in June 2027, Guerra represents a significant investment for any interested club. Arsenal’s interest in Guerra indicates that the club is keen to bolster their midfield options, especially given the current injury concerns. The Gunners are likely to face competition for Guerra’s signature, but Arteta’s determination to strengthen his squad could see Arsenal make a strong push to sign the young Spaniard in January.
The potential signing of Guerra could provide Arsenal with the depth and quality needed to navigate the challenges of the Premier League and other competitions. However, in the short term, Arteta will need to find solutions within his existing squad to cope with the absences of Merino, Rice, and potentially Odegaard.
As the North London Derby approaches, Arsenal fans will be anxiously awaiting updates on Odegaard’s injury, hoping that their captain can recover in time to lead the team against their fierce rivals. In the meantime, Arteta’s focus will be on managing the available resources and preparing his team for one of the most important matches of the season.
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