Arsenal 'certain to look for' key signing at the Emirates

Arsenal are “dead certain” to try and sign a centre midfielder on deadline day, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The Gunners are top of the Premier League following five consecutive wins, but Mikel Arteta still be in the market for reinforcements, with Aston Villa man Douglas Luiz on his radar.

Steven Gerrard threw Luiz’s Aston Villa future into doubt following the defeat to Arsenal last night after he was unable to confirm whether he will still be at the club beyond the 11pm deadline.

Asked whether he expects him to stay, he said: “I’m not in control of that. That will be Douglas, his agent and what happens around that. I’d like to keep him, he’s a fantastic player. I’ve made that abundantly clear.

“We’re not in a position where we need to lose our top players but at the same time Douglas has got a year to go and it is one of those really touchy situations where the club has to do what is best for the club, even if it is not necessarily best for me.”

Therefore, Arsenal are hoping to complete a late deal, with The Sun claiming that the Gunners are preparing a £25m bid for the Brazilian, who’s entered the final 12 months of his Villa Park deal and is free to leave.

Arsenal do face competition from Chelsea, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, who are also in the market for engine room operators, though.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “They suddenly look a little light in midfield in terms of numbers, so I think it’s a dead cert that Arsenal are looking around to see if they can get anyone to come into the squad now and make a difference, although I don’t think they will spend a lot on a midfielder, which could prove a stumbling block.”

Arsenal have been in the market for a centre midfielder all summer, with Youri Tielemans their top