Arsene Wenger is reportedly set to make an offer for Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta as the Arsenal boss looks to effectively fill the whole left by the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona. The Gunners boss sees the Toffees star as the perfect stop gap purchase who can fill the void in the short to medium term with the likes of youngster Aaron Ramsey and long term target Eden Hazard seen as possible alternatives in the future.
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 and the Emirates Stadium manager knows that he needs to add balance to his side to prevent it being too top heavy with youthful talent.
Arteta is a player that Arsenal have been linked with in the past and now the 29 year old is a target Wenger feels will help add experience and creativity to the club’s midfield. Everton chariman 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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