Arsenal considered move for in-form Premier League star before signing Raheem Sterling

Arsenal considered a move for in-form Brentford forward Bryan Mbuemo during the closing stages of the summer transfer window.

Mikel Arteta looked unlikely to strengthen his attack right up until the moment he and Edu pulled off an audacious loan deal to bring Raheem Sterling to the Emirates from Cheslea.

Having failed in their attempts to sign the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Nico Williams, Arsenal looked set to rely upon the players which scored a collective 91 goals last season when they finished just two points adrift of champions Manchester City.

An injury to Gabriel Jesus, however, forced Arteta’s hand and he was able to capitalise on Chelsea’s very public stance that Sterling was surplus to the requirements of Enzo Maresca.

Prior to engineering a deal for Sterling, however, Mail Sport reports that Arsenal explored the possibility of a deal for Mbeumo.

The Cameroon international has started the new season in impressive fashion, scoring three goals in as many games.

Brentford, however, had been forced to contend without Ivan Toney who has now finalised his move to Al-Ahli and the Bees were reluctant to lose two start players in quick succession without a chance to replace them.

Sterling, meanwhile, is hoping to make his Arsenal debut in next weekend’s north London derby against Tottenham.

The 29-year-old was not signed in time to feature in last Saturday’s frustrating 1-1 draw against Brighton but is using the international break to get up to speed with the demands of a manager he knows well from their time together at Manchester City.

‘It’s a perfect fit for myself to be at a football club like this, where you can see that hunger, that desire, year on year, they are pushing and pushing and pushing,’ said Sterling after completing a move. ‘That’s exactly how I am as a person.

‘Each year you want to get better and do better than the previous year. Hopefully I can gel really well with the boys and get going.

‘It’s time now to meet the boys, get settled in and hopefully now see some game time and make my mark.’