Merino price-tag warning as Merson says what he expects to happen at Arsenal

Imminent Arsenal arrival Mikel Merino should expect to begin his career at the Emirates as a deputy, says club legend Paul Merson.

The Real Sociedad midfielder has been Mikel Arteta's top priority since the permanent arrival of David Raya and £42million signing of Riccardo Calafiori. And it now seems as though the manager will get his man.

Merino is reportedly jetting in for a medical in north London before putting pen to paper on a four-year deal as he looks to bring size and versatility to the club's midfield. However, the player's transfer fee, a respectable £27m plus £4.25m add-ons, has Merson believing the Spain star won't immediately start alongside Declan Rice in Arteta's engine room.

The 28-year-old will, according to the Sky Sports pundit, have to oust Thomas Partey from his position in the side before stamping down a regular first-team place. But he will be a pivotal part of Arteta's third consecutive title charge, nonetheless.

“I don’t think he comes in and plays straight away," ex-Gunner Merson said during Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday. "The price-tag tells you that.

"I think he plays where Partey plays. He fits Arsenal ’s build, and they’re buying a very, very good footballer.”

Partey arrived at the Emirates from Atletico Madrid in 2020 after the Gunners activated his £45m release clause, but hasn't been the mainstay in midfield many would have expected him to be – primarily due to separate hamstring and thigh injuries he's suffered during his four-year tenure in north London.

The £105m signing of Rice from West Ham last summer further signalled Arteta's intent to challenge for a league title. Still, he is due an efficient partner next to him who can act as both a defensively-minded six and a box-to-box eight, enabling the Englishman to venture forward.

Merino has been touted as said partner, but Merson evidently believes he'll have to work to earn such a position. A deal for the Euro 2024 star has been in the works for some time, delayed by Arsenal's stipulation that they wished to offload one of their own players before spending the £30m-topping fee it would take to prise Merino away from Sociedad.

One of those names who has seemingly been shown the exit door at Arsenal is academy graduate Eddie Nketiah, who, according to ESPN, has been the subject of a more than tempting £30m offer from Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.

The Gunners are supposedly inclined to accept the bid, which would allow Nketiah to depart, despite Arteta revealing that the striker will still train with his squad in the meantime ahead of Friday's deadline. "I expect Eddie to train with us," said the Spaniard. "Whatever happens will happen if it’s good for everybody.”

Looking beyond this weekend, Arsenal have just one more match before the September international break, which comes at home to high-flying Brighton next Saturday (12.30pm), where Merino could potentially feature if all goes to plan. After the two-week break, neighbours Tottenham are Arsenal's next opponents.