MASTER-OF-THE-DUEL MERINO IS A PERFECT FIT FOR ARTETA'S GIANT PLAN TO CONQUER CITY

WHEN it comes to catching Manchester City, Mikel Arteta believes that size matters.

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Arsenal have built their most physically-imposing team since the 'Invincibles' in a deliberate move that Arteta hopes will lead them to the title this season.

Arteta has transformed the physical profile of his squad in recent years. Declan Rice and Kai Havertz were brought in for a combined £170million to add height and strength last summer, while new £42m signing Riccardo Calafiori will add even more aerial power at the back.

The manager wants powerful players who are also blessed with technical skill, and prospective new signing Mikel Merino would add a further level of athleticism.

Arsenal remain locked in talks with Real Sociedad over a deal for Merino, a 6ft 2in midfielder who was in the Spain squad that won Euro 2024.

If both Calafiori and Merino were added to the starting XI that beat Wolves on Saturday in place of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Thomas Partey, eight Arsenal players would be 6ft or taller.

They have not had such size in their team since players like Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell and Thierry Henry went unbeaten in 2003-04.

It has been some shift under Arteta, who has targeted players to make Arsenal tough again.

In his first game in charge five years ago, more than half the Arsenal XI were under 6ft.