The Gunners recently offered an initial £26 million for the Euro 2024 winner, with another £4.3m in add-ons, but Sociedad rejected it and have told them to pay £33.5m.
The La Liga club are open to receiving payments by instalments, but whether Arsenal are willing to part with such a fee for a player out of contract at the end of the season remains to be seen.
La Real are ready to grant the request of Merino after he made it clear he wants to move to the North London club over other suitors following talks with manager Mikel Arteta.
He was omitted from their matchday squad for the opening game of the new La Liga campaign last weekend despite expressing the desire to play.
Sociedad do not want to risk playing him so as to prevent any freak injuries, and they are aware his desire to move on could distract him on the pitch.
However, Arsenal must be willing to meet their demands, but the Gunners have been hesitant.
Things could change as the summer transfer window heads into its final week.
Both clubs will have to reach a compromise on the fee, and while no other club are in the race right now, suitors could re-emerge in the coming days with bids Sociedad would not be able to turn down if Arsenal do not wrap things up quickly.
La Real do not want to let go of one of their best players easily, and the Gunners may end up paying slightly more than they have budgeted for Merino if they are indeed serious about landing the 28-year-old.
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