Mikel Arteta reportedly remains a keen admirer of Vinicius Jr, with Arsenal said to view the Brazilian as their top target for the left-wing slot should his situation at Real Madrid become unsettled, according to BBC News.
The report states Vinicius is set to reopen contract negotiations with Real Madrid this week, as the two sides continue working towards resolving his long-term future at the Bernabeu. Despite Arsenal's interest, the forward is understood to be keen on staying put in the Spanish capital, suggesting a move to the Premier League champions is far from imminent.
Vinicius has been a central figure in Madrid's recent success, and any transfer saga would likely hinge on how talks over a new deal progress in the coming weeks. For now, according to BBC News, Arsenal are merely positioning themselves as admirers rather than active suitors in a live negotiation, with the winger's own preference to remain at Real Madrid the dominant factor in the story.