Arsenal's search for midfield reinforcements during the summer transfer window is well documented and it could very well resume in January.
Amid strong links to Leicester City's Youri Tielemans - and Lucas Paqueta prior to the Brazilian joining London rivals West Ham United from Lyon - it appeared that the profile of player that Gunners manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu were targeting was a more attack-minded midfielder to compete with Granit Xhaka in the left-sided '8' role.
However, Mohamed Elneny's injury a few days before the summer transfer window closed triggered a change of approach from the Arsenal pair as they pushed hard to sign Douglas Luiz - who can operate at the base of a midfield three - from Aston Villa on deadline day, but to no avail having seen as many as three offers rejected.
