Arsenal tracking attacking midfield maestro who would relieve pressure on Ozil & Sanchez

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Arsenal have made Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan a summer transfer target after extensive scouting, according to The Guardian.

The Guardian reports that Arsenal have sent scouts to watch the Armenian international, out of contract in 2017, and have studied him extensively via video footage.

Dortmund are trying to get the 27-year-old to sign an extension, but he is split on whether to stay or leave to experience a new challenge, The Guardian understands.

Mkhitaryan joined the Bundesliga club in 2013 from Shakhtar Donetsk, having previously been tracked by Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, The Guardian adds.

The Premier League missed out on Mkhitaryan when he was in the Ukraine, but the Gunners may hope to fare better in their ambitious pursuit of the majestic winger.

Mkhitaryan has been one of the top performing players in the whole of Europe this term, scoring 20 goals and contributing 24 assists in all competitions for Dortmund.

Arsenal attacking midfielders – Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joel Campbell and Santi Cazorla – have combined for eight goals and six assists this year.

His arrival would ease the creative responsibility on Mesut Ozil, whose 18 Premier League assists this campaign is 14 more than any other Arsenal player has managed.

Mkhitaryan’s goalscoring prowess would also mean that the Londoners are not so badly affected when Alexis Sanchez experiences dips in form, as he has this season.

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