Unai Emery has made it clear that Aston Villa have no intention of selling Douglas Luiz.
Arsenal have regularly been linked with the midfielder and their interest remains strong, having been unsuccessful in their attempts to bring Luiz to north London last year.
The Gunners made three deadline-day bids for the Brazilian, the final offer £25million, but Villa held firm and Luiz has since signed a new contract, committing his future through to 2026.
The 25-year-old has started every Premier League game this season as Villa have made a flying start to the campaign, sitting fourth in the table and only two points off the pace set by leaders Arsenal.
Luiz has five goals and two assists from midfield in the League and is likely to attract plenty of attention when the transfer window opens. Arsenal are on the hunt for a midfield signing, with Thomas Partey struggling with injury issues and involved in the Africa Cup of Nations in January, along with Mohamed Elneny, should he return to fitness by then.
However, Villa unsurprisingly do not want to let Luiz leave and, speaking after his side's win over Tottenham on Sunday, Emery reiterated the club's stance.
"Douglas is playing very good," the Villa boss said."His commitment [is] amazing. I want to keep him and he is happy with us."
Arsenal will get a close look at Luiz next month, when they travel to Villa Park in the Premier League. The Gunners make the journey on December 9, before hosting Brighton a week later and then facing Liverpool at Anfield in a tricky run of fixtures leading up to Christmas.
Villa's strong early-season form has been fuelled by their performances on home soil - they have now won 13 League matches in a row at Villa Park.
