Arsenal latest: Gunners star flies to Spain as Mikel Arteta identifies new target

Arsenal's title hopes have been given a major boost in the last few days following back to back wins over Chelsea and Tottenham

It has been quite a stretch for Arsenal over the past week or so. At a moment when their Premier League title challenge appeared to be losing momentum, they responded emphatically with decisive victories in successive London derbies.

They began by thrashing Tottenham 4-1 to halt a two-match winless streak in the league, then followed that up with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph against Chelsea on Sunday.

Once more, their effectiveness from dead-ball situations proved decisive, as both Arsenal goals versus the Blues originated from corner kicks. That sequence of results has re-established a five-point cushion at the top of the table.

While Manchester City could reduce the margin to two points if they claim victory in their game in hand, Arsenal currently seem to have a firm grip on what is becoming a compelling championship battle.

Ensure our latest football headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

Their schedule continues with a trip to Brighton on Wednesday, followed by an FA Cup meeting with Mansfield Town over the weekend.

Mikel Arteta's side remain contenders across all four major competitions, with a Champions League round-of-16 encounter against Bayer Leverkusen and a League Cup final versus Man City later this month. Here, football.london compiles the latest developments surrounding the club.

Arsenal star flies to Spain

One individual Arsenal are set to feel the absence of during the closing months is Mikel Merino, who has become an unexpectedly reliable source of goals since arriving at the Emirates Stadium in 2024. The midfielder, who has occasionally been deployed by Arteta in an improvised No. 9 role, is expected to miss the rest of the season after fracturing his foot against Manchester United in January.

Following an operation, the Spaniard has travelled back to his hometown of Pamplona to concentrate on recovery and rehabilitation while being close to loved ones.

Merino is targeting a return in time for the 2026 World Cup this summer after playing a pivotal part in Spain's qualification journey.

Nevertheless, Arsenal are said to believe the 29-year-old will not feature again this season, instead aiming for him to resume first-team training before the Premier League wraps up in May. Reports also indicate that Merino currently "cannot put weight on his foot" and faces an extended spell on the sidelines before regaining peak condition.

Arteta seeks scouting update

It is understood that Mikel Arteta has instructed sporting director Andrea Berta to collect detailed intelligence on Inter Milan forward Pio Esposito. The 20-year-old impressed during Arsenal's 3-1 Champions League win over the La Liga outfit in January, possibly paving the way for transfer interest down the line.

Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Esposito both "frightened and fascinated" the Arsenal boss, who has kept him "in his eyes and thoughts" since that evening.

The young striker, who has netted three goals in five appearances for Italy, came on as a second-half sub against the Gunners and, despite not scoring, drew significant attention with his energetic display.

Last summer , Arsenal spent £63.5million on headline acquisition Viktor Gyokeres, who has spearheaded the attack for much of the season. However, the reported admiration for Esposito indicates that Arteta may already be planning ahead.