---
title: "Arsenal transfer news: Guler’s Arsenal dream fades as Madrid tie him down, while Merino reveals the dressing-room summit that made champions"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2026/10/17/arda-guler-arsenal-transfer-real-madrid-contract-merino-secret-meeting/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lucie Turner"
section: "Arsenal News"
published: "2026-10-17T08:43:19Z"
modified: "2026-10-17T08:43:20Z"
---

# Arsenal transfer news: Guler’s Arsenal dream fades as Madrid tie him down, while Merino reveals the dressing-room summit that made champions

In Arsenal transfer news, it looks like Arsenal’s long admiration for Arda Guler looks set to go unrewarded. Real Madrid have reportedly agreed a new contract that would keep the Turkey international in the Spanish capital until 2031.

The news comes as the Premier League champions prepare to face Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s side are looking to catch up with early pacesetters Manchester City and prove that last season’s title was no flash in the pan.

AS (the Spanish sports newspaper based in Madrid) reports that Guler has agreed to terms on a deal running to 2031. Extending the agreement he signed on arrival in 2023, which was set to expire in 2029.

The 21-year-old is set to see a pay rise in recognition of his growing role under Jose Mourinho. He has scored a goal and provided five assists in nine games this season, including two assists in Wednesday’s 4-3 Champions League win over Roma.

## **Arsenal face midfield succession dilemma**

For Arsenal, it is not the time of the year they were hoping for. Bukayo Saka has the wing under his command. Guler is simply too good a player to be placed in the shadows. The other version of the No.10 role, however, has seen Martin Odegaard become the obvious choice throughout recent seasons.

The Norway captain has never been anything less than reliable. However, a string of injury problems has hampered his campaign, and the club will eventually require succession planning. A deal running beyond four years would effectively rule the player out.

Arsenal are not alone in the Premier League in potentially missing out. There have been reports of Chelsea interest. Xabi Alonso, who gave Guler his first-team opportunity with Real Madrid, is considered to be likely to make a move in January. Madrid’s eagerness to tie the attacking midfielder down would be designed to fend off the attentions of their cross-city rivals.

## **The meeting that changed everything**

While the transfer market looks set to explode, a new light has shed on how Arsenal finally ended their 22-year title drought.

A first-person written piece for the Players Tribune by midfielder Mikel Merino gives an inside look at a secret meeting of the team, away from Arteta, in the dressing room.

This all happened on the day following Arsenal’s stunning collapse from a two-goal lead to a draw with Wolves. It was a match that reignited old jokes about the club’s lack of consistency.

Merino says there was no discussion of tactics. Instead, the players shared their thoughts on how a group of individuals copes with adversity collectively. Having spent much of the campaign on the sidelines, he provided the insight of an observer. He told his colleagues that the responsibility of steadying the ship lay with them, not the manager.

He thinks that conversation happened the moment the trophy was won. When Arsenal lost to Bournemouth and Manchester City in April, he argues, that bond that had been made on that day saw them through. The team chose to make the criticism fuel their fire.

Arsenal won their final five games of the season and were crowned champions with a game to spare after City were held by Bournemouth.

The Guler setback is a blow in Arsenal transfer news terms, but there is little time to dwell on it. Nottingham Forest await on Sunday. The champions will hope the self-reliance Merino speaks of carries them towards a second successive title.