Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has finally responded to rumours which have linked him with a possible move to sign one of the players that he worked with during his days as Manchester City’s assistant coach. 

The Gunners have one of the worst defensive records out of all the teams in top half of the Premier League this season and new manager Mikel Arteta’s main task has been to stop the leaking of goals.

Following the appointment of the Spaniard in late December, Arsenal have displayed a better level of defending but the injury to Calum Chambers has brought the need for a new defender.

Earlier this week, rumours broke that Mikel Arteta was eyeing a move to sign John Stones with journalist Daniel Cutts even claiming that the Manchester City star had spoken to his agent about a move to the Emirate stadium.

Stones, who is earning £100,000-a-week wages (Spotrac), recently returned from injury for Pep Guardiola’s side, prompting the idea that he could be an idle candidate for the Gunners to snap up on this month.

When asked about the 25-year-old on Wednesday, Arteta admitted that he is indeed an admirer of Stones but there is no truth in him pushing for a move to sign the defender.

“No truth at all,” Arteta said, as quoted by Yahoo Sports

“John is a player I really like. We followed him before we signed him when I was at City.

“I worked with him for many years, I know him well and when I look at centre-backs he has many attributes I like, but we are not interested in him.”

Be the first to receive breaking news about Arsenal!