Arsenal
Arsenal Face Transfer Dilemma After Mikel Merino Ruled Out Before Deadline
Mikel Merino’s possible “serious” injury pushes Arsenal toward the transfer market ahead of deadline
Arsenal have been left assessing their options after Mikel Merino was ruled out of Saturday’s victory over Leeds United and could be facing a lengthy absence, a report has revealed. The suggestion of a “serious” injury raises the possibility that Merino will miss several weeks and forces the club to consider the closing transfer window.
Merino provides vital midfield cover under Arteta, supporting both Martín Zubimendi and Declan Rice. While Merino has forged a reputation as an emergency striker, it is in midfield where he finds most importance under Arteta, providing key cover to both Martín Zubimendi and Declan Rice. His loss would reduce the manager’s rotation options at a time when Arsenal are pushing on multiple fronts.
Winger Bukayo Saka also gave cause for concern after he pulled out of the warm-up for Saturday’s game. Saka’s withdrawal created a bench opportunity that saw Christian Nørgaard included, a player who was not originally expected to be on the bench until Saka’s late absence opened a spot.
With transfer deadlines across Europe just hours away, an emergency signing could be required if Merino is ruled out for a significant period. Arteta will want multiple rotation options as Arsenal head into the decisive phase of their Quadruple charge, and previous seasons have shown how injuries and a lack of high-level alternatives can derail title hopes.
Arsenal have not confirmed the extent of Merino’s problem, but reports indicating a “serious” injury point to at least a month on the sidelines. Even in a best-case scenario, Merino appears likely to miss Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea. Meetings with Sunderland, Brentford, Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur across February may also come too soon for him.
Chelsea return to Arsenal’s schedule at the start of March, followed by a Champions League round of 16 tie against one of Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Olympiacos or Bayer Leverkusen. The club must weigh the risk of further absences against the window deadline when deciding whether to act.
Arsenal
Saka injury clouds Arsenal victory after Elland Road win
Saka was left out after a pre-match knock; Arsenal beats Leeds and Arteta calls it a “little niggle”
Arsenal arrived at Elland Road facing a match that had taken on added significance and left with both a victory and fresh uncertainty over one of their key attackers. A set piece and a goalkeeping error by Karl Darlow opened the scoring, and Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Jesus added second-half strikes to ensure a comprehensive result that tamped down talk of a potential title collapse. The side remain the frontrunners, but attention has already turned to the condition of Bukayo Saka.
A video of the moment Saka picked up his pre-match injury has circulated, though the precise problem has not been confirmed. It appeared his left leg was bothering him ahead of kick-off. Mikel Arteta described the issue as a “little niggle” after the game and said that the full extent of the injury is not yet known, while also seeming to play down the prospect of a long-term setback.
Saka’s recent fitness record gives added context to the concern. He suffered a major hamstring injury at the end of 2024, underwent surgery and was sidelined for more than three months before returning in late March. At the start of the current campaign he missed six games because of a less significant hamstring issue.
At this stage there is no confirmed return date for Saka. Medical clarification is required before any timeline can be provided. The club and supporters will await a formal diagnosis, but that information is expected to follow quickly. For now, Arsenal can take encouragement from the result at Elland Road while monitoring the recovery of a player who has recently battled through significant hamstring problems.
Arsenal
Arteta clarifies Saka absence as Madueke steps into Cup spotlight
Arteta: Saka had a warm-up niggle; Madueke responded when called, with Chelsea tie on Tuesday. Read.
Mikel Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka was withdrawn from the squad for Saturday’s win over Leeds United after picking up “a little niggle” in the warm-up. The injury was the only notable setback on a positive day for Arsenal ahead of the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
“He wasn’t comfortable to start the game, so immediately we made a decision to make that change and bring Noni in,” Arteta said, explaining the decision to replace Saka before kick-off.
Squad depth on the right flank was a specific objective for the club during the summer transfer window. Arteta has been open about his intention to assemble multiple high-quality options in every position, and securing a reliable deputy for Saka was part of that plan.
Arsenal agreed a package worth as much as £52 million ($71.4 million) to sign Madueke from Chelsea, and circumstances provided an early opportunity when Saka was sidelined earlier in the season. While the headline goal-and-assist figures have not matched expectations, Madueke has “undoubtedly passed the eye test this season,” contributing when called upon.
Arteta praised the new arrival for his attitude and preparation. “The way he prepares, the way he’s waiting for opportunity, I think he paid off today because he really impacted the team,” the manager said, highlighting Madueke’s readiness to fill the role.
On the collective task, Arteta added: “We talked before the game, it’s going to be a long game, we’re going to have to navigate through different moments in the game, and we’re going to need everybody fulfilling the role that they have on the day, and I think the players executed that incredibly well.”
Madueke is the leading candidate to occupy the right wing when Arsenal face his former club on Tuesday, though Arteta’s squad contains several possible options for the position.
Arsenal
Clinical Arsenal Cruise to 4-0 at Leeds as Madueke Seizes Late Call-Up
Arsenal recovered from the United loss with a 4-0 victory at Leeds, Zubimendi opened scoring today.
Arsenal responded to last week’s defeat to Manchester United with a 4-0 win away at Leeds United. The Gunners controlled the match from the outset, Martín Zubimendi opening the scoring with a smart header before a corner from Noni Madueke produced an own goal shortly after. Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Jesus both netted in the final 20 minutes to make the scoreline emphatic.
Noni Madueke, thrown into the starting lineup moments before kick-off, made an immediate impact. His cross created Zubimendi’s opener and his corner caused the own goal by Karl Darlow. That decisive delivery underlined why Mikel Arteta sought to add the former Chelsea man to his squad.
At the back Gabriel led a physical performance, notably handling Dominic Calvert-Lewin with authority and topping the successful duels for Arsenal. Declan Rice kept the midfield ticking with a steady stream of passes and defensive work. Martín Zubimendi shielded the defence and recycled possession efficiently, earning the match’s highest rating.
Bukayo Saka had been set to start but an injury in the warm-up forced him out of contention, leaving Arsenal to await clarity on the severity of his problem. Madueke’s display further complicates selection decisions on the right flank.
Key player notes and ratings from the match: Martín Zubimendi 8.2, Gabriel Jesus 7.6, Gabriel 7.5, Noni Madueke 7.5, Declan Rice 7.6. Substitutions included Gabriel Martinelli (61′ for Madueke), Martin Ødegaard (61′ for Kai Havertz), Riccardo Calafiori (76′ for Piero Hincapié), Gabriel Jesus (76′ for Viktor Gyökeres) and Eberechi Eze (81′ for Leandro Trossard). Unused subs were Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Nørgaard.
Match statistics underlined Arsenal’s control: possession 51% to 49%, expected goals 2.39 to 0.15, total shots 14 to 3 and shots on target 8 to 1. Arsenal created seven big chances to Leeds’s nil and both sides finished with 79% passing accuracy.
