Arsenal’s head coach has told his players to knock on his door and know the truth regarding Argentina striker Julian Alvarez transfer talk. According to ESPN, the Gunners is ready to make a club-record move for the 26-year-old if either Alvarez or Atletico Madrid show any interest before Tuesday transfer deadline.

Madrid has already denied reports that they are interested in letting their forward to Barcelona despite Alvarez’s preference to join the Catalan club.

Asked how he is managing his current forwards amid the talk of a deal for Álvarez, Arteta said: “Very simple: whatever you read, if you have a question, come and knock on my door and I will tell you whether it is true or not because if, I don’t know, in any position if they are reading and you put now the catalogue on all these walls about all the players that we wanted in the last three months, I think we’d need the whole building to put it on.

“They know there is so much speculation with a lot of players. If ever they feel the doubt of what we think of them and if we are going to recruit a player, I tell them straight away.”

Pushed on whether any of his players had done so, Arteta said: “No. Normally I do it. So if we are going to sign somebody in their position, I normally tell them.

“This is the plan and this is the reason why we have the plans. ‘We still believe the same in you but the competition is going to increase.’ I prefer to do it that way.”

Arsenal made a winning start to their Premier League campaign, registering a comprehensive 3-0 win against Coventary. 

Arteta revealed that Gabriel Jesus did not train with the first-team as he is looking for a move away from the club.

“It is something to do with the numbers that we have in the squad at the moment and the way we manage that kind of situation individually,” Arteta said. “With all the players, they have some personal situations. Personal situations, whatever they are, I think it is clear.”

The Brazilian is linked with Napoli.