Arsenal want to sign a striker before the transfer window shuts and have had an approach turned down for Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins. The club are also long-term admirers of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko, but neither player will move before the deadline.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has refused to comment on the club’s interest in Ollie Watkins but says the Gunners’ intentions in the closing days of the transfer market are clear as they chase a striker.

William Gallas has confessed he is struggling to make sense of Arsenal’s decision to sanction the signing of Martin Zubimendi. The Gunners are understood to have ringfenced £51 million ahead of the summer window in order to sign the Spain international midfielder.