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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Chris Doyle

Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up after last-gasp deadline day transfers are secured

Mikel Arteta has left it late to add reinforcements in January but there is still time for the Arsenal boss.

The Gunners have missed out on several targets including Dusan Vlahovic after he rejected a move to the Emirates in favour of Juventus and Arthur Melo who looks set to stay in Turin.

Arsenal have been forced to scramble for alternatives with the clock winding down as the transfer window shuts on Monday night.

But the north Londoners have a habit of making a last gasp deadline day signing in years gone by and they'll be hoping to replicate the impact Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made when he arrived in 2018 from Borussia Dortmund.

The Gabon international looks set to head in the other direction this time around as Barcelona attempt to sign him on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Have Your Say! Will Isak sign for Arsenal before the transfer window closes? Comment here.

Alexander Isak is a target for Arsenal but Real Sociedad are reluctant to sell (Getty Images)

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The striker's potential exit means it's even more imperative to bring in a replacement and Alexander Isak is at the top of Arteta's shortlist.

The Gunners have been told they will need to pay the full amount of his £75.4million release clause if the striker is to leave Real Sociedad this month, however, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.

The report also says that no offers have arrived as of yet and Sociedad are confident the 22-year-old will be at the club for the remainder of the campaign, but it's claimed AC Milan are considering a move for Isak.

Isak was reportedly spotted in London this weekend with teammate Adnan Januzaj adding fuel to the fire that he is on the verge of signing for Arsenal.

It's claimed that Isak was in a bar in Kingly Court in Soho and in a shopping centre alongside the former Manchester United youngster.

Isak has previously spoken of his lofty ambitions to play in England one day and reach the highest level.

"I am in a good place at the moment, I am very happy, but one day it would be nice to play in England as well," Isak recently told The Independent.

"They have six or seven of the biggest clubs in the world, it is a very high level, and of course one day it would be an alternative. Every player wants to be the best version of themselves and reach the highest possible level.

"I have expectations for myself that I’m trying to fulfil, so we’ll see where the journey takes me in future."

Arsenal have also been in pursuit of a midfielder this month but a deal for Arthur Melo has collapsed, while Bruno Guimaraes joined Newcastle.

Renato Sanches seems to be the most realistic option as the midfielder has been linked with a move away from Lille.

The Portugal star's contract runs out in 18 months and the French side are willing to listen to offers in the region of £25m.

Renato Sanches could leave Lille in January (Jeroen Meuwsen/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

AC Milan had a bid accepted for Sanches but Sky Sport Italia claim the deal collapsed late on Sunday evening, paving the way for Arsenal to enter the frame.

Arteta's lack of depth means Sanches and Isak would go straight into the Spaniard's starting XI in their natural positions.

Sanches would partner Thomas Partey in the middle of the park while the Swedish talisman would lead the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation - with Granit Xhaka and Alexandre Lacazette making way for the pair.

Aaron Ramsdale would feature in goal, while Arteta would deploy Gabriel, Ben White, Keiran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu in defence.

Partey and Sanches would occupy the base of the midfield with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, who would link up with his former Sociedad teammate, supporting Isak in attack.

Arsenal potential line-up: Ramsdale, Tierney, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Partey, Sanches, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Isak.

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