Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo has fuelled speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal by saying that he would like to play for the Gunners.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly keen on adding the Brazil international to his ranks ahead of the new season, while Gustavo has welcomed the interest as he looks for first-team football ahead of next year's World Cup.
The 26-year-old was impressed with the Gunners during their Champions League defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich last season and is also thought to be excited at the chance to play under Wenger.
"My contract with Bayern runs until 2015 but it is very important that I play first-team football to keep getting called up for Brazil. I am in a very delicate situation at Bayern and this needs sorting out. I have personal and professional reasons to move," Gustavo is quoted as saying in The Guardian.
"Nobody earns a place in the Brazil squad with past glories. I need to be playing to show I am in proper shape for the team, especially now that we have only friendlies before the World Cup.
"I have heard about the Arsenal interest. It's a big club we're talking about here so of course I'd like to play for them. Arsenal play a very attractive brand of football and are in the Champions League. They also have a very clever manager in Arsene Wenger. Even when Bayern beat them in the last Champions League [on aggregate] you could see they are not pushovers."
Gustavo has seen his chances at Bayern limited following the signings of Javi Martinez last season and Thiago Alcantara this summer.
Barney Corkhill
