Free agent was open to joining Arsenal before Arteta made big-money call

French midfielder Adrien Rabiot wanted a Premier League move this summer amid interest from Arsenal and other suitors, according to French journalist Romain Molina.

However, the 29-year-old is set to join Olympique Marseille after the Gunners signed Spain international star Mikel Merino in a €37 million deal.

Manchester United opted for Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain, and the options that appealed to Rabiot dwindled afterwards. He has eventually settled for a return to Ligue 1.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wanted to bolster his options in the middle of the park and eventually opted for Merino.

Rabiot won five Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain and one Serie A title with Juventus, and he boasts much-needed experience at the top level.

He would have been a fine addition to the Gunners midfield, but the club had other ideas and will hope Merino proves to be the perfect signing.

The 28-year-old is currently injured after fracturing his shoulder following a collision with Gabriel Magalhaes in his first training session. He is expected to return to action next month.

Arsenal were dealt a blow in midfield ahead of their visit to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with Declan Rice suspended while Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko were out injured.

It could have left Arteta wishing he had signed Rabiot despite Merino’s arrival, but the Spaniard had no room for another midfield addition.

Arsenal are back in action on Thursday with a trip to Italy to face Atalanta in their first Champions League game this season before playing Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Arteta will be hoping for some good news from the treatment room as he could do with his injured stars for those two huge games.