Arsenal continue to be heavily linked with a January transfer to Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Brazilian international is the Gunners' 'top target' ahead of the winter window.

Luiz is said to be regarded as the 'perfect midfielder', while his 'many different factors' make him 'top of the list' for the north London outfit, who are short of options in the centre of the park given Thomas Partey's ongoing injury struggles. The Villa star has evolved his game massively over the last 12 months, picking up his side's Player of the Year award last term after a hugely impressive campaign.

Those kind of performances haven't gone unnoticed either. In fact, Arsenal legend Paul Merson argued that Luiz was the most underrated player in the entire division just last month.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson said: "Douglas Luiz is the most underrated player in the Premier League. No-one talks about him. He turns up for Aston Villa week in, week out.

"He's box to box, he scores goals and passes the ball extremely well. He's just a very good player.

"Villa have got a good team. They have a lot of underrated players."

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Unai Emery's side currently sit fifth in the table, although they are only three points off first-placed Manchester City after 12 games, with Luiz contributing a huge part, having netted five goals and provided one assist already this term. Another Gunners icon who has been impressed by the 25-year-old in the past is Ian Wright.

After Villa had beaten Arteta's men 3-0 back in November 2020, Wright said on his podcast: “Someone like Douglas Luiz, he is ready to be one of the best midfield players in the Premier League. He is so underrated.

"They blasted us (in the match. We had no chance. It was men against boys."