Sign Isak or Give Arteta The Sack - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

He put up Vieira’s age-21 numbers at 17.

 

Thinking the same. about Trossard, as for Jesus, no way anyone was buying him injured. His contract expires in '27. At his age, etc, he might go back to Brazil to finish out his career. He was linked to a Brazilian club before.
Don't see him leaving in January but in the summer if he goes. Would really surprise me if Everton goes for a 28 year old with his injury record just off an ACL but stranger things have happened.

Having only Gyokeres and Havertz when we could conceivably be in the semis of 3 cups isn't enough. Merino is a 3rd striker by default not by design. Jesus would get games starting or off the bench in the league and FA cup or in CL games where we have things sewn up in the league stage. He is far preferably to Merino up front if both are fit.

https://metro.co.uk/2025/10/09/arsenal-open-door-45m-star-leave-january-transfer-window-24386236/

The report claims that while Arsenal are expecting a ‘quiet’ winter window following a lavish summer of spending, club bosses are open to offers for the Brazil international.

Flamengo and Palmeiras have both been credited with a strong interest in Jesus in recent weabeks, as well as Everton, who are said to be serious about a January move for the ex-City man.

 

The question is that at 5’6” does he get bullied in the Premier League in the same way that Vieira was?

I will repeat that he definitely looks like an interesting prospect. But, the other potential issue is that Arsenal already have Odegaard, Eze, Nwaneri, Rice, and Merino who can play as #8s. All but Nwaneri are full internationals and I believe we all want to see Nwaneri get more playing time, so where would Mora fit?

 

I've seen him play LW

 

Ironically, in all competitions, Mora’s goals and assists for Porto at 17 are virtually identical to Martinelli’s goals and assists in all competitions for Arsenal at 18. There are no guarantees, especially when changing a players preferred position.

With the exception of Vieira, Arteta’s transfer preferences have focused on big physical players, I don’t see this happening.

 

I've always said we should try Martinelli as a striker. See how it works out. He's scored a 'striker's goal' for us on more than a few occasion especially on a counter .The goal against Newcastle is a striker's goal. No one is saying he will Henry but he has the qualities. We've put Trossard up front and he can't do any worse.

He also will at times play that position for Brazil.

She also agrees

 

Doesn't work in Arteta's system. We need someone to occupy the CBs and link up play, and that isn't Martinelli.

You could have a lineup where you play Trossard on the left, Martinelli at striker, and Eze at left 8, and have them interchange, and that would cause havoc on the left side of the pitch if we got the ball into the right positions, but only at the expense of making Saka a peripheral figure. Maybe it's worth doing in games where Saka needs a rest and the other team is parking the bus, but probably only then.

 

Martinelli isn’t a winger

I tend to agree, but like @mebeSajid said, Arteta can’t have him up front him.

Mikel Merino is like a souped up Dele Alli, and Arteta don’t know how to fit him into the side to get the best out of him.

 

Re: Merino, there will be games where someone who runs around in midfield is enough, and that's what Merino was acquired for.

Also, I think Merino up front + Martinelli on the wing + Eze would also interchange well.

 

My .02 on Merino in Spain vs at Arsenal is that Pedri is able to do a lot of what Rice and Odegaard do individually. Arsenal doesn't have a Pedri, so putting Merino in midfield entails sacrifices that limit Merino.

 

It's not really difficult. Put him at striker. It's crazy to me that it's not obvious at this point.

 

He scores striker goals. But he's not a striker? Trossard and a midfielder was played as s striker though? Er....ah....ok.
Quacks like a duck. lol

 

Forget what he did for Spain. He scored goals up top for us.

 

Merino is not a run around midfielder

He is a guy third CM who also wins duels at a high clip. He needs to be closer to goal and away from the midfield build up, but I think Arteta wants him to be a build up guy. Merino is only good facing the opposition goal. He legit may be a world class final ball/goal scorer.

 

I don't think he is a striker either. He doesn't have the pace and lateral quickness for it. Especially what we want.

If he did, he is probably better than Kai and Gyokeres, lol

 

He doesn't fit any traditional role well, but his qualities shine more as a striker than as a midfielder.

He can link play, but he can’t create.
He can’t beat players with speed or off the dribble, but he’s composed in front of goal and puts away chances.
He’s an odd piece to fit perfectly into a puzzle, but I’m not sure I know what you mean by “what we want.” His game is very similar to Kai’s. Neither is a traditional striker, but I’m not sure that’s what we need. All I know is what I said before the season started: I would not be surprised if Merino turns striker for us than either Kai or Gyokeres. I just don’t think that he’ll get a run of games to prove it.

By the way, are you ready to concede that Cala offers more offensively and defensively than MLS, or do we still need to wait until the end of the season?

 

Honestly

In this squad

he is best as a sub for 20/25 minutes to get a license to go forward into the box

 

I think Merino is a better version of peak Dele Alli because he can defend and wins his duels.

At CF, you lose that and he is slow so he can’t really press well.

I think MLS is the best 1v1 defender in the squad. Even better than Timber Island. No one gets by MLS on the dribble. I don’t think Cala is a better defensive left back than him, which is what our original discussion revolved around.

But Cala is a world class footballer in the truest sense. I think he is as talented as Saliba and Saka as a footballer and can do more things than anyone in the club. I don't think I ever denied that. I real would like to see him at CB b cause I think he could unlock another level from there in a libero role.

 

I don't get visions of Dele Alli when I see Merino to be honest. I do think Merino is the type of player that is likely best in a free midfield role. He would need a committed number 6 to mind the store.
He has a good football brain and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Unfortunately, that style doesn't fit well with our set up where Arteta has defined roles. In the game, Merino may be called to be in a certain position but can read the game where he can be effective elsewhere and he can't go there.
I think the reason why he comes up with important goals and such is because he's brought in when we are desperate at times and his main job is to be effective. Yes, play the position that you are in there for but if see an opening, can make a run, you go where the ball will be after a corner, etc, do that because we need it.

Definitely Cala can cover a lot of areas on the pitch, an above average CB and good FB. He can also move like a decent winger. For a LB he makes some penetrating runs into the opposition box than I haven't seen much from any winger. He is a great header of the ball. Has a great shot on him and I hope he takes more shots and practices shooting in practice if he isn't already.
Timber is the best 'athlete' on the pitch with Rice right behind him.

 

I just don’t think merino’s game is similar to Kai at all. Both are left footed and press well. Havertz is a lot more creative and has a lot more pace. Merino always finds himself in the right spot in the box - that’s his gift to the club.