In today’s media it has been made clear Arsenal defenders Bacary Sagna and Per Mertesacker are getting closer and closer to putting pen to paper on new deals which would keep them at Arsenal for years to come.

Arsene Wenger said in his press conference:

We are making good progress, and hopefully we can announce something soon."

Today saw more rumours with Arsenal and the possibility of signing a striker come to fruition.

Talk of French striker Paul-George Ntep arrival at the club picked up speed earlier this afternoon as it was claimed a deal of around £7 million had been reached over the signing and then loaning back of the player to Auxerre.

Nothing official was confirmed so it is yet to be seen how serious Arsenal’s interest is at this time. Auxerre is a club Arsene Wenger and his scouting team have been monitoring closely over the last couple of years resulting in the singing last summer of Yaya Sanogo.

In regards to this signing, it would be interesting if Wenger looked to sign another young striker playing in the second division of French football.

Gunners’ superstar midfielder Mesut Ozil has praised midfield colleague Tomas Rosicky, hailing the Czech international captain as one of the best midfielders in the League.

Ozil received the highest of accolades this week when he was named in UEFA’s official Team of the Year, for his performances with Real Madrid and Arsenal since his move in the summer.

However the German did not dwell on his award winning place, instead praising Rosicky after the 33-year-old’s sparking form of late. Tomas has appeared in 4 of the Gunners’ last 6 games, starting against Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham and coming from the bench in Monday’s win over Villa.

Arsenal’s chief commercial officer Tom Fox said on Wednesday that Arsenal couldn’t compete against Manchester City’s finances.

Fox said: “You can’t compete against that.”

“We’re a football club in London and we are a global brand, but we would never try to compete against the financial resources of a country.

“I just don’t think that’s a very realistic thing for us to do… trying to chase those types of owners. Obviously it’s just not possible.”

We are halfway through the January transfer window but no additions have been made to Arsène Wenger squad just yet.

However, plenty of rumours have come to the surface again today with us supposedly making a bid for a young defender.

Jamaal Lascelles…

The young defender in question is Jamaal Lascelles of Nottingham Forest. According to the Daily Mail we have put in an initial £3 million offer for the 20-year-old.