Thomas Partey dropped, Eddie Nketiah spot filled – Arsenal line up after £60m double transfer

With only a few days left in the transfer window, Arsenal is expected to have a busy conclusion.

Wolves and Ajax are showing interest in Aaron Ramsdale for a possible loan transfer. However, the Gunners are adamant on getting the England international to sign a long-term contract, and should he decide to leave, they will have to purchase a backup. As a result, the saga is still undetermined at the time of writing.

However, the sales of Eddie Nketiah and the signing of Mikel Merino appear to be getting closer to conclusion. Merino was not present at Sociedad’s Wednesday training as he gets closer to a transfer that is rumoured to be worth over £30 million.

In the meantime, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest are getting closer to selling Nketiah. A bid of about £30 million is probably going to be sufficient to get the 25-year-old to the City Ground, but Forest is getting closer to aligning with an agreement over personal terms.

If both transactions are finalised in time, Mikel Arteta’s decision about the starting lineup for Saturday’s game against Aston Villa would be greatly impacted. Merino, who stands taller than six feet, might be the exact opponent Arteta is looking for when he goes up against the Villa midfield’s tenacity. The Spanish international can win duels brilliantly and might provide Arsenal the opportunity to take advantage of Villa’s high line by winning it high on the pitch.

Merino would probably be used in the left eight position, which Declan Rice has been occupying lately, to accomplish this. It’s reasonable to believe that Rice, the team’s record signing and one of their most vital players, will be listed on the roster. However, Rice, 25, will probably be shifted further into the number six position to make room for Merino’s arrival.

In the season’s first matchup versus Wolves, Thomas Partey was chosen for that position. Partey, on the other hand, had a mixed afternoon and might be benched.

Nketiah has recently spent a lot of time at Arsenal in that area. The 25-year-old would free up a spot among the substitutes that needs to be filled because he hasn’t started a competitive game for the Gunners since 2024. It’s reasonable to believe that a forward would take his place, and because Fabio Vieira is expected to return from a hip injury, you would think he would be back among the substitutes.

Sadly, someone would have to miss out on the opportunity to replace Partey and Jorginho. It is likely to be Ethan Nwaneri based only on seniority. However, the 17-year-old is incredibly gifted and will undoubtedly return to the team shortly.

Arsenal’s potential roster following the additions of Merino and Nketiah

Starting eleven: Raya; Rice, Odegaard, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko.

Replacements: Trossard, Jesus, Nelson, Partey, Vieira, Jorginho, Timber, Calafiori, Ramsdale, and Trossard.