Wenger Confirms Arsenal Could Sign New Midfielder After Arteta's Injury

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested the Gunners are still on the market for a defensive midfielder following Mikel Arteta's recent injury.

The Captain was taken off in the 50th minute in the Olympic Ataturk Stadium after spraining an ankle during Tuesday's Champions League 0-0 draw against Besiktas in the first leg of the play-offs.

After confirmation that the Spaniard will be out for at least two weeks and will miss Arsenal's next two games, Wenger has refused to rule out a new signing.

When questioned on Thursday morning whether he expects a new midfielder before the end of the transfer window, Wenger was quoted by The Telegraph saying: "We are not against that, no."

The Arsenal manager also has Mathieu Flamini in his ranks but since the beginning of the summer he was already said to be considering the signing of a long-term replacement to Arteta, who is 32 years old.

The North London club have been heavily linked to Real Madrid star Sami Khedira – as well as Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho, Bayer Leverkusen's Lars Bender and former Gunners star Alex Song.

Last month some reports even claimed the Gunners had agreed terms with Real Madrid over the signing of the German international – with just Khedira's high salary demands stalling the deal.

And even though Wenger himself then denied the negotiations were advanced, reports last week claimed Khedira's agent was set to hold talks with both Arsenal and Chelsea this week regarding a summer move.

Even though the Real Madrid star had an excellent World Cup, Los Blancos are likely to part company with him, as his contract is due to expire next summer and this is their last chance to make a profit on him.

Manager Carlos Ancelotti has left him out of the first-leg final of the Spanish Super Cup against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, as well as last week's European Super Cup and reports in Spain claim they are ready to sell him for as little as £12m.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are also said to be in negotiations with Olympiakos for defender Kostas Manolas – as Wenger is also looking for a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen.