Arsenal Interest in Luiz Gustavo is Pure 'Fantasy' Insist Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg midfielder Luiz Gustavo is not a target for Arsenal and will not be leaving the Bundesliga club before next week's transfer deadline, according to the German side.

Brazilian international Gustavo has emerged a transfer target for the Gunners in recent days amid suggestions Arsene Wenger is still looking to add a powerful holding midfielder to his squad.

Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for the player last summer when Pep Guardiola made it clear he was no longer part of his first team plans at Bayern Munich. On that occasion Wolfsburg beat the Premier League side to the player, but the Mirror suggests Wenger is now keen to bring him to the Emirates at the second time of asking.

With Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira now content to remain in the Spanish capital, it was suggested Wenger will turn his attention to Gustavo – only for Wolfsburg to dismiss such claims as pure 'fantasy.'

"I don't know who brings those rumours up, some people just have too much fantasy," Wolfsburg's sporting director told local newspaper WAZ, ESPN report.

Gustavo's agent Roger Wittman added: "Luiz has decided to stay at Wolfsburg. End of discussion."

Arsenal acted quickly earlier in the summer to restock in defence and in goal, bringing in Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and David Ospina in addition to marquee signing Alexis Sanchez.

The club's need for a formidable presence at the base of their midfield was reinforced when Mikel Arteta suffered an injury in last week's Champions League play-off clash with Besiktas. The Spaniard will reportedly miss two weeks of action, including Wednesday's return leg against the Turkish giants at the Emirates with the tie poised at 0-0 at the half-way mark.

Arsene Wenger will also be without Aaron Ramsey for the clash after the Welshman was shown a red card last week, while Olivier Giroud is another notable absence after suffering an ankle injury against Everton on Saturday.