Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are trying their hardest to sign Houssem Aouar from Lyon before the end of the transfer window.
Arsenal have already had multiple bids for the midfielder rejected by Lyon but the Gunners are expected to submit another offer before the window closes on October 5.
Lyon rejected an offer of £32 million from Arsenal last week and are holding out for a fee closer to £55m.
Arsenal have also attempted to include Matteo Guendouzi as part of their bid to sign Aouar, however, Lyon are not interested in signing the midfielder who is yet to make an appearance for the Gunners this season.
When asked about a potential move for Aouar, Arteta replied: ‘Well, I am very confident in what we are trying to do internally. [I am getting] clarity and support from everybody at the club to try and improve the team if we can.
‘But most importantly as well, to get the right balance in the squad, for now and the way we want to evolve the squad in the future. We are all very much aligned but I’m afraid that I cannot give you any updates or news.
‘I think it is a crucial moment because in the end it defines the people, the players, the balance and the quality that you’re going to have for the rest of the season.
‘We need to make some decisions in the next three days, I think everything has been delayed so much, not just us but probably every team because of the context that we’re in at the moment.
‘We will try to make the best possible decisions and at the end, whatever we have, we go for it fully convinced and prepared to have a good season.’
Asked if he is happy with his squad if the club missed out on a deal for Aouar, Arteta said: ‘I am very happy because the way we are acting and the way we are approaching and doing the processes around the market, around the squad and the communication link that we have at the moment between myself, Edu, the board and the ownership is really good and I’m really satisfied.
‘And I know that we are all trying our best to improve the team and try to take the direction to achieve the goals that we want.
‘We are trying our maximum, maximising our resources with full support from the owners for what we are trying to achieve. It’s just whether we can do it or not.
‘Believe me, we will try our best and we will be trying to give our players the best possible environment, the best possible coaching and have them believing that we can achieve what we want to do.
‘And if it will be with one more player, two more players or two players less, we will keep doing the same.’
