Arsenal have missed out on Luiz Gustavo after Wolfsburg agreed a £17 million deal with Bayern Munich for the defensive midfielder, according to the
Guardian. Gunner's manager Arsene Wenger said last weekend that he was interested in the Brazil international and has been looking for an able, defence-minded midfielder ever since last summer's departure of Alexander Song to Barcelona. Arsenal valued the 26-year-old at £14 million but appear to have been unwilling to budge on that figure, allowing Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg to usurp them for the player. The German club have been long-term admirers of Gustavo. And this latest set-back in the summer transfer market is one that only serves to pile the pressure on Wenger to make an eye-catching signing before the window closes on September 2. The French boss tried to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender earlier this summer but had an £18.5 million inquiry rejected. He was also interested in bringing in Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue, who is instead set to join North London rivals Tottenham. Meanwhile, Wenger has also been foiled so far in his efforts to sign a new striker. Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain was at one point poised for a move to Emirates Stadium but opted for Napoli. And landing Liverpool forward Luis Suarez is also proving to be difficult, with the Gunner's having had two bids for the Uruguayan rejected - including one bid of
£1 over £40 million. Arsenal's chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, claimed at the start of the summer that funds would be available for Wenger to spend on new recruits ahead of the start of the new Premier League season. But so far, France youth international striker Yaya Sanogo on a free transfer from Auxerre remains the only piece of business the London club have completed thus far.