These two would provide Mikel Arteta with a real injection of experience, although a less experienced player has also just been the subject of a bid from Arsenal in Isaque Severino Silva. RTI Esporte in Brazil now state that Arsenal have submitted a bid worth just over €12m (£10m) for the Fluminense wonderkid.

Arsenal supporters have launched a new petition. Unlike the last one, it has been warmly received. Earlier this summer, a campaign opposing the signing of Chelsea’s Noni Madueke backfired badly,