Wenger may swallow his pride in Arsenal pursuit of Juventus star

Arsene Wenger is determined to prove his ambitions haven’t dwindled at Arsenal, and Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio is the latest man he has been linked with as he aims to convince Robin Van Persie to sign a new deal at the Emirates.

It would seem that the promise of fresh blood will contribute greatly to Van Persie’s ultimate decision, as will Arsenal’s success in their attempts to finish in the top four, which they are currently [insert odds here] to do in the Premier League odds.

Wenger has often been criticised for his inability to replace Patrick Vieira, and maintain a solid spine to his side since the departures of the likes of Vieira, Sol Campbell and to a lesser extent, Gilberto Silva.

Marchisio would go some way to rectifying this notion however, with the tenacious midfielder strong in the tackle, and the type of enforcer who could prove a perfect foil for the attacking talents of Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby to flourish.

Whilst his career has developed at a relatively slow rate, Marchisio has improved vastly since the first of his 135 Juventus appearances, with a loan spell at Empoli a catalyst in his projection to a status as a first-team regular for the Turin giants.

There has been previous interest in the midfielder from Arsenal, along with Manchester United and Liverpool also, though none of these clubs ever firmed up their interest in the player.

Now, Wenger appears willing to do so, and has not been deterred by the fact that the 26-year-old Italy international extended his Juve contract until 2016 only last year.

His performances this season have seen this hailed as his best campaign yet, and his inclusion in the Serie A Team of the Year will increase his value yet further.

All things considered, a significant fee would be required to secure Marchisio’s services, but Wenger may be willing to part with an excessive amount to prove Arsenal’s ambition to his captain Van Persie.