Mikel Arteta chose to remain coy and gave nothing away when asked about Arsenal’s pursuit of Lyon star Houssem Aouar.
Time is ticking for Arsenal to get anything out of their interest in Aouar.
A host of European sides are interested in the Frenchman, with the Gunners looking the most prominent in those links so far.
Arsenal have seen subsequent offers knocked down for Aouar with the French side wanting somewhere between €50-60m for their prized asset.
Club president Jean-Michel Aulas set a deadline of Friday (today) as the deadline for interested clubs to complete signings of any Lyon player whatsoever.
It remains to be seen whether he was bluffing on those words but time will tell.
With only three days left before the transfer window is shut, Mikel Arteta was asked to comment about the links between Arsenal and Aouar.
In a typical fashion, the Gunners boss did not give anything away.
“Well, I am very confident in what we are trying to do internally. [I am getting] clarity and support from everybody at the club to try and improve the team if we can,” Arteta told the Arsenal website.
“But most importantly as well, to get the right balance in the squad, for now, and the way we want to evolve the squad in the future. We are all very much aligned but I’m afraid that I cannot give you any updates or news.”
It’s a race against time for Arsenal to try and see the Aouar deal over the line. That is if they are truly in the running as reports say.