Arsenal 'Weighing Up' Deadline Day Signing After Devastating Injury Blow

It could be a busy end to the transfer window for Arsenal as they weigh up making a deadline day signing.

At the end of last year, an enthusiastic Mikel Arteta said Premier League leaders Arsenal would be “actively looking” at potential signings in the January transfer window.

"The window is there. I mean, we are Arsenal and we have to be looking at it," he said. "We have to be actively looking and then, whether we can do it or not, that's a different story."

So far, it has been a quiet period for the Gunners, with the only activity being departures. Oleksandr Zinchenko has joined Ajax until the end of the season, while Ethan Nwaneri made a loan move to Marseille.

But with only hours remaining of the window, Arsenal are said to be considering a deadline day signing as they look to replace the injured Mikel Merino.

Merino, who has scored six goals in 33 appearances this season, is set for a spell on the sidelines after the Spaniard suffered a serious foot injury, with the BBC reporting that there are concerns he will be out for a number of weeks.

"He's got an issue in his foot," said Arteta on Saturday. "It's a bone that's giving him some pain, and we have some exams, we need some more specialists to look at it and to see how long he will be out."

With that in mind, Arsenal could delve into the transfer market on Monday, according to talkSPORT.

Arsenal have been tracking highly-rated midfielder in recent months

Back in November, it was reported that Arsenal were weighing up a potential move for Spanish midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, who has impressed for La Liga side Elche in recent months.

A report from The Telegraph suggests Arsenal’s recruitment team have been tracking Mendoza, who has a release clause of £17.5 million.

Interestingly, a winter move for the 20-year-old was not ruled out.

In addition to the above report, Football Insider also claimed Arsenal's sporting director, Andrea Beta, is 'leading their pursuit' of Mendoza ahead of the January transfer window.

Manchester City and Real Madrid are also said to be keen.