Vinicius Junior to Arsenal 'is happening' as Mikel Arteta's 'response' prompts transfer frenzy | OneFootball

The Arsenal boss has called for more ambition in the transfer market

The Gunners are in the market for a left-winger, despite the signing of Christos Tzolis earlier in the summer.

As such, Standard Sport understands the Gunners are monitoring the situation of Vinicius Jr at Real Madrid as they are interested in signing the Brazil international if he does become available, with the conditions for a deal being explored.

Having entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, the 26-year-old is currently locked in negotiations over an extension, with The Athletic reporting the situation will become clearer in the coming days.

That update came shortly before Arsenal cruised to victory over Girona in pre-season on Saturday evening, with Kai Havertz, Tzolis, Max Dowman and Gabriel Jesus all on target in Spain.

Following the game, Arteta was quizzed by the media about the Premier League champions’ plans for the remainder of the transfer window and reporter Isaan Khan, jokingly, asked when Vinicius Jr would be joining the club.

To which the Spaniard responded with a smirk.

While that response did not confirm a deal for Vinicius Jr was on, some Arsenal fans on social media are adamant that Arteta has channelled his inner Arsene Wenger.

Described as Wenger's 'transfer grin' by many supporters, the Frenchman was famous for smiling when discussing a player linked with the club right before concluding deals for the likes of Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, and Alexis Sanchez.

Speaking earlier in the week, Arteta called for Arsenal to be ambitious in the transfer market as they attempt to kick on for more success following their Premier League title win.

He said: "This has to be the start and this has to be the standard.

"Excellence has to be our standard and this has to drive to attack the future. The way we behave daily with more and more determination and ambition because we've shown that we've got it.

"Now we have to show that we belong to this level and we want to increase and take this football club to a different dimension."