MIKEL ARTETA has revealed Arsenal did everything possible to sign Douglas Luiz on deadline day after having THREE bids rejected for the Aston Villa defensive midfielder.
The Gunners had offers of £20million, £23m and £25m knocked back by the Villans who were adamant the Brazilian was going nowhere.
Luiz, 24, was keen on a switch to the Emirates – just a day after he scored in Villa’s 2-1 defeat against the North London outfit.
But no agreement could be found between between the two clubs, with Arteta failing to be reunited with the player he briefly coached at Manchester City.
The Villans were reluctant to part ways with Luiz despite the nine-cap international set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Arsenal were forced to make a late swoop for a midfielder following injuries picked up by Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny.
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Commenting on Arsenal’s failed pursuit of Luiz in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash against Manchester United, Arteta said: “We had a lot of things still to do in the squad.
“The club has done phenomenal job and put everything on the table to to try and get the players and the profile we wanted.
“We did business pretty early but unfortunately in the last 72 hours Thomas got injured in the same place as last time and Mo has a long-term injury.
“Then we had to react in the market and we tried to bring in the players that are right for the team and work for the club and didn’t manage to do that.
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“We pushed to strengthen the team and bring the best possible people and players to this football club.
“We have managed to a certain level. Time was a big limitation with what happened in the last 72 hours in our midfield.
“It is the team that we have and for the me it is the best squad and the best players that I have available. There is nothing else we can do.
“We have an academy as well that we have to use and try to utilise the players in the best possible way.”
In another blow for Arsenal, Arteta has revealed that the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko could all miss the trip to Old Trafford.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
