Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino is next in line for an estimated £30m, according to reports, but another player must make way first. One common characteristic between them is they all stand over six feet tall.
Arteta has previously confessed he prioritises targets with superior physical attributes, which could hold the key to Arsenal finally lifting a league title. Before facing City at home last October, he said: "Physicality is something that you need in the league. City are one of the most powerful teams in the League, that's for sure, and you need to match that up."
Pep Guardiola's City defence, bolstered by the recruitment of Josko Gvardiol last year, has proved overwhelmingly strong and difficult for any team to penetrate. Ruben Dias, Manual Akanji, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker often outpower the forwards they confront.
Arteta's Arsenal are now shaping up to be a formidable force themselves, matching the might of Guardiola's Manchester City. With a towering back-line that could soon include Calafiori, alongside Gabriel, William Saliba, and Ben White - all standing at 6ft or more - the Gunners are poised to dominate too, already seen in their stellar defensive record last season.
Adding 6ft2in Merino to the midfield further transforms Arsenal into a team that not only poses a deadly threat from set pieces but also physically outmatches their rivals. Reflecting on last summer's hefty £170m investment in Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, it's clear that Arteta has been building a team with an imposing physical presence at its core.
Mikel Merino of Spain
At 6'2" tall, Mikel Merino is exactly the type of player Mikel Arteta wants (Image: Getty)
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"He's got the physical qualities we have been missing for a while, and that's why we had to get him," Arteta remarked on Rice's transfer from West Ham. "He gives us something very different with his quality and size," he said when highlighting what Havertz adds to the team.
The legendary Invincibles, who effortlessly clinched the league title in 2004, boasted a similar stature with giants like Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira, and Thierry Henry towering over their adversaries.
Arteta is clearly hoping that his side, with the addition of Calafiori and the potential signing of Merino, can tackle the league in a similar vein and use their physicality to overpower all those who stand in the way of them and the Premier League trophy.
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