Arsenal interest turns head of Premier League midfielder

Arsenal held Premier League title rivals Liverpool to a 1-1 draw on Saturday, keeping Mikel Arteta’s side in top spot. 

Defender Gabriel gave the visitors a deserved lead at Anfield, before talisman Mohamed Salah levelled things up before the break.

Neither side could find a winner, meaning that the Gunners go into Christmas top of the table, with the Reds just a point behind in second.

In the meantime, it appears that one of Arsenal’s transfer targets has had his head turned by the Gunners’ interest.

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is interested in the possibility of joining one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

The Brazilian has attracted interest from both Arsenal and reigning champions Manchester City and, while Villa are currently in the midst of a title challenge, the report claims that the player could be tempted by a move elsewhere.

Luiz, 25, joined the Villans from Man City back in 2019, having failed to make a single senior appearance for the Citizens.

He has since made 177 appearances for Villa across all competitions, scoring 18 goals and providing 19 assists.

This season he has scored six goals and provided seven assists in 26 matches across all competitions.

His impressive performances haven’t gone unnoticed, though, and the report claims that Arsenal are planning a move to sign the Brazilian next summer.

By that point, the player will have just two years remaining on his current contract, and the Gunners are therefore hoping that they will be able to lure him to the capital.

Villa will reportedly demand as much as £100 million to sell Luiz, making it almost certain that he won’t depart Villa Park in January.