According to Mikel Merino, one of his new teammates at Arsenal had been pestering him for weeks to finalize his transfer from Real Sociedad.
Following Arsenal’s agreement to pay La Liga side Sociedad about £31 million, the Spaniard’s transfer to Arsenal was officially completed on Tuesday.
After Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori and Spain goalkeeper David Raya, who had his loan from Brentford extended, Merino is Arsenal’s third summer addition, having inked a four-year deal at the Emirates Stadium.
Merino, who previously had a disappointing spell in the Premier League with Newcastle United, made over 200 appearances for Real Sociedad and starred in Spain’s Euro 2024 win over the summer.
He featured in all seven of Spain’s matches out in Germany and scored a late winner in the extra-time quarter-final victory over the hosts.
Merino was first linked with Arsenal during the Euros and says new club team-mate Raya was ‘always’ asking him whether he was indeed joining him in north London.
Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, Merino said: ‘Obviously when the rumours started he [Raya] was always asking me, “What’s going on? Am I going to see you next year with us?!”
‘We have a good relationship and obviously won the Euros together so I’m extremely happy to have him here. I think he will be a big help for me to adapt to this new life. He is an amazing team-mate.’
Merino revealed he also spoke with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard before becoming Arteta’s third signing of the summer.
Odegaard and Merino were briefly team-mates at Real Sociedad when the former joined the club on loan from Real Madrid.
‘We exchanged some messages a few days ago,’ Merino said. ‘He told me he was really happy for me to take this next step in my life.
‘It was amazing sharing the pitch with him back in the day. I have a lot of good memories of our connection and hopefully we can have an even better connection here.
‘I remember a pretty good play we made against Osasuna away, where we had a one-two and it finished in a goal for us.
‘But just in general, in every training, in every game I think we had a good connection.
‘He’s a player who moves extremely well behind the back of the midfielders, and for us who play in a similar position, he made the job really easy for me.’
Now an Arsenal player, Merino wants to achieve ‘big things’ at the club following the Gunners’ back-to-back second-place finishes in the Premier League.
Arsenal have made another promising start to the 2024-25 campaign, beating Wolves and Aston Villa to take six points from their opening two games.
‘I wouldn’t move to a club that are not aligned with my desires,’ added Merino, who will wear the No. 23 shirt at Arsenal.
‘What I want is to grow, to win, to fulfil my dreams and I think this club has the same mentality. This is something I value a lot. I value a lot the work they put in every single day.
‘I have spoken with Mikel [Arteta] and he’s told me the way they work, and I love that way of working as well.
‘So I think it’s the perfect match, now it’s time to get to work, the part I love doing, and hopefully everything goes well.
‘The thing that inspires me a lot is they keep doing it. They are keeping the hunger, they won’t give up and I want to come here and help them achieve their goals.
‘Obviously they have an amazing team, an amazing squad, I can see they have amazing facilities, amazing staff around them. So I think it’s the best mix, and hopefully this year we can do big things together.’
Merino is in line to make his Arsenal debut on Saturday when in-form Brighton visit the Emirates Stadium.