Arsenal consider late deadline day signing as key star suffers suspected broken foot

Arsenal are weighing up making a deadline day signing after Mikel Merino’s injury setback, talkSPORT understands.

The midfielder missed his side’s win at Leeds United on Saturday with a suspected broken foot.

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Mikel Arteta confirmed after the match that the Spaniard would be seeing a specialist to determine the severity of the injury.

The Gunners now fear Merino could be set for a lengthy spell out as he’s understood to have suffered a broken bone in his foot in a blow to their title hopes, although the full details of his injury have not been confirmed.

Speaking after Arsenal’s win at Elland Road, Arteta explained: “He’s got an issue in his foot.

“It’s a bone that’s giving him some pain, and we have some exams, we need some more specialists to look at it and to see how long he will be out.”

Merino has scored six goals and provided three assists in 33 appearances across all competitions so far this season.

Arsenal transfer plans

His injury could now see Arsenal delve into the transfer market for a replacement on deadline day.

The window is set to close for Premier League clubs at 7pm GMT on Monday.

Arteta is yet to make any new additions to his squad in the winter transfer window after his £260.5million summer spending spree.

However, he hinted at possible signings prior to the start of the window.

Speaking at the end of December, Arteta admitted: “The window is there and I mean we are Arsenal and we have to be looking at it, ‘Okay, what do we need?’

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“And we have to be actively looking and then, whether we can do it or not, that’s a different story.

“But our job is to always be very prepared because something can happen, so hopefully it’ll be very positive.

“When you look across the other clubs, they have 24 or 25 squad players.

“Although we have had more injuries than expected, some of them not avoidable, we want to be better and we know how important the part of having the right availability with players is going to be this season.”

Merino’s absence would leave Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Martin Odegaard as the Gunners’ midfield options.

Merino can also play as a make-shift forward having deputised in place of the injured Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus several times during the second half of last season.

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The Premier League leaders are likely to need depth in the remaining months of the season as they chase silverware on four fronts.

As well as their title tilt, where they are currently six points clear at the top of the table, the north London side are preparing for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Tuesday.

Arsenal lead the tie 3-2 following their win at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, they host Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup in February.

The Gunners are also into the last 16 of the Champions League having ended the league phase with a perfect record of eight wins from their eight matches.

Elsewhere, Arsenal’s medical team are already assessing an injury to Bukayo Saka which forced him out on Saturday.

The winger was replaced in the starting line-up by Noni Madueke after pulling up during the warm-up.

Youngster Max Dowman is also currently sidelined, with a potential return scheduled for later this month.