Arsenal: Arteta ‘would love opportunity’ to sign £23m star at Emirates

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta ‘would love the opportunity’ to sign Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz in January, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Gunners attempted to prise the 24-year-old away from the Midlands outfit on deadline day in the previous transfer window but were ultimately unsuccessful in their pursuit of his signature.

90min reported that Arsenal saw two bids rebuffed by Villa for Luiz as they were determined to keep him at the club despite bringing in Leander Dendoncker from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

An opening offer was turned down before Arteta’s charges returned with a second bid totalling £23 million plus add-ons, yet that was also rejected by the Midlands outfit. 

Arsenal technical director Edu and Arteta were said to be ‘pushing hard’ to complete a deal for Luiz after he entered the final year of his contract at Villa Park.

Steven Gerrard publicly expressed his desire to retain the services of the Brazil international, though, but did acknowledge that the defensive-minded dynamo’s expiring deal may force the club’s hand if a sizeable offer arrives.

However, Arsenal were evidently unwilling to match Villa’s asking price, and Luiz stayed put, yet he hasn’t put pet pen to paper on fresh terms, leaving his long-term future up in the air.

Arsenal lost Mohamed Elneny to injury in the opening weeks of the season, leaving Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga as their only natural engine room options.

And O’Rourke believes that if the north London outfit are still ‘going well’ by the winter window, then Arteta may revive his interest in Luiz.

He told GiveMeSport: “So, if Arsenal are going well, are still near the top of the table, Mikel Arteta, I think, would love the opportunity to