Paul Merson tells Arsenal to sign former Chelsea star as Mikel Merino replacement

Paul Merson has urged Arsenal to consider signing former Chelsea star Ruben Loftus-Cheek following confirmation of Mikel Merino’s injury.

The Spain international is set to face a significant spell on the sidelines after he damaged his foot during last month’s 3-2 defeat against Manchester United.

Merino is set to undergo surgery imminently and is expected to miss a significant portion of the run-in.

‘Mikel will have surgery in the coming days and will then begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme,’ a statement read on the club’s official website.

‘Mikel is expected to be out of action for an extended period, with the aim of returning to full training before the end of the season.

‘Everyone is fully focused on supporting Mikel to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.’

Mikel Arteta’s current central midfield options include Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard. An injury to any one of that trio would leave the Gunners vulnerable and place their silverware hopes at significant risk.

The Premier League leaders are understood to be scouring the loan market for potential options and Merson believes a player of Loftus-Cheek’s calibre would fit the bill perfectly.

‘Oh absolutely worth looking at,’ he said of the 30-year-old AC Milan star who has been linked with a January move to Aston Villa.

‘Loftus-Cheek is a very good player with Premier League experience. That would be a no-brainer. But there’d be a lot of other clubs that could need Loftus-Cheek, definitely.’

Arsenal have also been linked with an audacious move for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, but the Magpies have no intention of parting company with the Italy international.

Were he available, however, Merson believes he would represent the sort of signing that would help the Gunners dominate for years to come.

He said: ‘He’s a proper player if Arsenal went and got him. You just have to keep on buying better players, better players. I’d take him tomorrow morning.

‘Arsenal are going for Champions League, Premier League, they’re in four cups still. This is not just planning for this season, they’re planning to dominate for five or six years.

‘He’s a phenomenal team, he’d walk into anybody’s team in the world in my opinion.’