Mikel Arteta responds to Mikel Merino and Eddie Nketiah Arsenal transfer rumours

Mikel Arteta has given his response to the Mikel Merino and Eddie Nketiah transfer rumours. With the Spaniard expected to be announced as a new player soon and the future of the England striker up in the air, there was an expectation over what the Gunners boss might say.

Arteta faced the media ahead of Arsenal's second Premier League game of the season as they travel to Aston Villa on Saturday. Unai Emery's side have an excellent record against the Gunners having beaten them twice last season.

Asked about the potential arrival of Merino, Arteta provided an unsurprising and typical response. He said: "No. I cannot talk about any player that’s not with us. There’s still time in the market. Both ways. For all the managers, for all the teams here. You can see it’s getting very busy."

Asked if a deal will be done soon, he said: "I don’t know soon. The full focus is on the players that we have at the moment, the big match we have at Aston Villa and that’s all."

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Nketiah, meanwhile, has been linked with a potential exit from the club. Nottingham Forest are close to agreeing a £30million deal with Arsenal for a move this summer, football.london understands.

Asked about the potential exit of the forward, he said: "I expect Eddie to train with us today. To be prepared for tomorrow. That’s it. Whatever happens will happen if it’s good for everybody."

On the remainder of the window, he had this to say: "Anything can happen and we have to be ready. A lot of surprises can come and we will be prepared."