Arsenal’s season has reached the point where fine margins are no longer theoretical. In the final hours before the Premier League winter transfer deadline on Monday at 7pm GMT, the club is discovering how quickly a title push can turn into a test of logistics: wages cleared, loan slots counted, medical assessments awaited, and a squad already thin in key areas being forced to improvise in real time.
The most concrete change came away from the pitch. Arsenal confirmed the permanent sale of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Ajax after terminating his loan at Nottingham Forest by mutual consent, a sequence that cleared the way for a transfer worth just over £1 million. The fee is a sharp contrast to the roughly £30 million Arsenal paid Manchester City for him in 2022, but the move also removes a £150,000-per-week salary — a significant release of budget as the club weighs last-minute additions.
Zinchenko leaves after 91 appearances in all competitions and a stretch in which he helped reshape Arsenal’s build-up play. His inverted left-back role was a key tactical feature during Arsenal’s surprise second-place Premier League finish in 2022–23, but persistent calf injuries and defensive frailties gradually eroded his standing. As Arsenal’s attacking emphasis shifted and the right side became more central to their threat — with Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka increasingly prominent — Zinchenko’s influence faded. A leader for Ukraine during a period of intense turmoil back home, he departs with goodwill from many inside the club who hope the Netherlands provides him a steadier platform.
That sale, however, has unfolded against the more urgent problem: Arsenal are running short of bodies at the very moment the season is about to harden.
Merino’s setback forces a rethink — fast
The trigger for Arsenal’s late-window scramble is the suspected broken foot suffered by Mikel Merino, an injury serious enough to keep him out of Saturday’s win at Leeds United. Merino, who has contributed six goals and three assists in 33 appearances across all competitions this season, is due to see a specialist to determine the full extent of the damage and how long he will be unavailable.
Speaking after the match at Elland Road, Mikel Arteta offered little certainty, describing “an issue in his foot” involving “a bone” causing pain and saying further examinations were needed, including input from specialists, to establish the timeline.
With that uncertainty hanging over a defining run of fixtures, Arsenal have shifted toward exploring a last-minute loan signing to add midfield depth. They still have two loan spots available in their Premier League quota, but the clock is unforgiving and the market is crowded — and Arteta has repeatedly signalled he will not recruit simply to fill a number. As he put it at the end of December, Arsenal must be active and ask what they need, but whether a deal is possible “is a different story”.
Names under consideration illustrate both ambition and constraint. Ruben Neves, the Portuguese midfielder at Al-Hilal, has long been admired by Arteta, but he appears to be closing in on a new contract with the Saudi Pro League leaders, making a move to north London in this window unlikely. Arsenal have also tracked Lille’s 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, though any serious pursuit may be more realistic in the summer unless Merino’s prognosis forces immediate action.
The knock-on effects are already being felt. Bukayo Saka was a late scratch from the Leeds match after pulling up during the warm-up, and Noni Madueke came in as his replacement. Youngster Max Dowman remains sidelined as well, with a possible return pencilled in for later this month. In midfield, Arsenal are suddenly leaning on a narrow list of established options: Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Martin Odegaard.
A club leading the league, but short on room for error
All of this is happening while Arsenal remain at the sharp end of everything. As of February 1, 2026, they sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League table and are still competing across four major fronts. Next up is the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea, with Arsenal holding a slender 3–2 aggregate lead. An FA Cup fourth-round tie against Wigan Athletic follows. In Europe, Arsenal have already powered into the Champions League last 16 after a flawless group stage: eight wins from eight matches.
The context makes the timing of Merino’s injury especially disruptive. Arsenal’s broader squad-building plan has been clear since the summer, when the club spent £260.5 million on depth and versatility. This winter window had been comparatively quiet until the latest injuries and deadline pressure turned it into something else — a search for short-term cover that does not compromise long-term design.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s longer-range recruitment continues to run in parallel. The club recently saw a bid reported to be around £1 million rejected for Blackburn Rovers forward Igor Tyjon, 17, who made his Championship debut in September 2024 and has represented both Poland and England at youth level. Tyjon is drawing attention across Europe, with Poland’s Jagiellonia Bialystok and Rakow Czestochowa among the clubs monitoring him, alongside Manchester United, Aston Villa and Atalanta, as well as German sides. Arsenal had initially appeared willing to wait until summer, but Merino’s injury and the intensifying competition could force a faster decision — although Blackburn are holding firm and it remains unclear whether Arsenal will return with an improved offer before the deadline.
As deadline day moves toward its final hours, Arsenal’s challenge is no longer just about talent. It is about resilience, timing and whether the club can find the right piece quickly — not merely another signing — to protect a campaign that currently has everything in reach.
