Arsenal already have ideal Mikel Merino replacement as Mikel Arteta gives cryptic response

Arsenal are looking for a possible Mikel Merino replacement with Mikel Arteta asked about bringing in a player already training at the club

Mikel Arteta has not ruled out signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a short-term replacement for the injured Mikel Merino. The former Gunners star has been training with the under-21s for the last few months to build up his fitness, but he did featured in a first-team session in late January.

The 32-year-old has been without a club since leaving Besiktas last summer with Arteta offering a four-word response to whether or not he is an option.

When asked about potentially offering him a contract, Arteta simply responded: “We explore every option.” Oxlade-Chamberlain could be the perfect solution for Arsenal with Merino expected to miss a significant period with a foot issue in the defeat to Manchester United that requires surgery.

Earlier in his press conference, when asked about signing a new midfielder, Arteta stated: “Of course. I mean, when you lose a big player like this in the squad with four months to go and all the competitions to play for, you need to look.

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“We need to do everything that we possibly can to see if we have a player that is available. And if we don’t, we keep what we have.

“At this level, especially for four months, you have to be a player that has the capacity to adapt immediately and impact the team. That’s not easy. But if it were easy, we wouldn’t be here. So, we need to find solutions and try.”

The majority of Arsenal’s press conference was dominated by transfer talk with Arteta not dismissing any potential late moves.

When asked if there is money left after such a big spend, he said: “We have the responsibility to do that. It is true that we have done certain deals, but nothing different to the top clubs, I don’t think.

“We have to see where are the parameters. We have to have the options and then present them and then: is it possible, yes or no?

He added: “We are on it. It’s just the fact you want to make the right call with the right player because we really want to improve the team if we can. If not, we don’t do it.”

Despite also suffering an injury, Bukayo Saka is not expected to miss a significant period with the issue he felt in the warm-up at Elland Road.

On Saka’s condition, Arteta said: “We have to wait. Today he was better, but we have to see how he responds and make a decision.

“It doesn’t look like something too serious, whether he’s available for tomorrow or the weekend we will see.”

Arsenal have more options in attack to deal with his potential absence and Noni Madueke proved that by scoring and grabbing an assist in the 4-0 win over Leeds United. Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli are also capable of playing off the right.