Mikel Arteta insists ‘the best players in the world’ still want to join Arsenal despite their lack of recent success – but boss refuses to be drawn on £58m target Dusan Vlahovic
- Mikel Arteta spoke ahead of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool
- Gunners are interested in signing Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic this month
- But manager would not be drawn on any specifics in terms of signings
- He insisted that Arsenal still have the pulling power to attract top talent
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal can sign the world’s best players as they enter a pivotal week, starting against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.
Arteta is determined to bring in a striker in January and is keen on Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic, though it would cost around £60million to sign the 21-year-old.
Vlahovic is also said to have reservations about Arsenal not being confirmed as a Champions League club, which may see him wait until the summer to decide his future.
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal can still attract the best players in world football
Highly-rated Dusan Vlahovic (centre) is a top target for the Gunners but they face competition
Yet Arteta says Arsenal, who face Liverpool twice and Tottenham in the Premier League in the next seven days, are attractive to players around Europe.
‘Historically this club has always been targeting the best players in the world and the best players in the world are always interested to come here and I can say that situation hasn’t changed,’ Arteta said on Wednesday.
‘Any time I have spoken to any player, they were so willing to come.
The Fiorentina star has led the line well and is widely expected to leave now or in the summer
‘I haven’t faced any other situation and that’s one of our biggest powers, our capacity to get the attention of people to come and join our club. It’s something that is a big advantage for us.’
On the next week being significant for Arsenal’s season, Arteta said: ‘We are playing in two different competitions that we are really engaged with.
‘One because you can reach a final and are closer to the trophy. The other because we are going to play a big London derby against a team that is in the hunt for the same objectives as we are.’
Arteta is preparing his Arsenal side to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final
