Arsene Wenger is reportedly lining up Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta to fill the void left Cesc Fabregas’s departure to Barcelona, according to caughtoffside.
The Gunners boss is believed to be considering the Toffees star as a short to medium term replacement for Fabregas in order to take some of the pressure of youngster Aaron Ramsey.
Wenger is determined to bring in experienced players this summer but as yet has managed to purchase two teenagers, Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Lille striker Gervinho.
The 29-year-old has been linked with Arsenal in the past and would add some much needed experience and creativity to the side’s midfield.
Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has revealed this week that the club is unable to bring in new additions because of a brittle relationship between the Merseyside club and the bank that runs their finances.
Arsenal have already registered unsuccessful bids for defender Phil Jagielka but may feel they could tempt Arteta into making a move to the North London club where he can compete at Champions League level for the first time since his spell at Rangers, aside from an unsuccessful qualifier with Everton back in 2005/06.
The former Barcelona youth team player may also feel that a high profile move could lead to his first senior international cap having somehow failed to garner a single appearance for the full Spanish national team.
Arteta has spent six and a half years at Everton and notched up almost 200 appearances for the club and David Moyes will be loathed to lose such an influential player but may find it hard to prevent the Spaniard from being tempted by such a move.
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