Arsenal continue to appreciate Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz over a year after trying to sign him, according to a report.

Fabrizio Romano reports that there are many top clubs monitoring Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa at the moment, and Arsenal are one of them.

Though it’s well over a year since the Gunners made their deadline-day attempt to bring Luiz to the English capital, Romano claims the midfielder remains appreciated at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal technical director Edu Gaspar is certainly a fan of the 25-year-old, though there are a number of factors making a deal less likely.

For a start, despite Romano confirming Arsenal’s appreciation of Luiz, his report makes no suggestion that the Gunners are planning another move at this stage.

Though a second attempt to sign the player hasn’t been ruled out, it’s not something currently in the works.

After Arsenal’s failed bids to sign Luiz on the summer deadline day of 2022, the player extended his contract with Aston Villa. He’s now on big money with a long-term deal, further complicating a potential transfer.

Then there’s the reason this is all in the headlines to being with – Luiz’s form for Villa.

The Brazil international scored twice at the weekend against West Ham United, and he has six goals in 14 games this season from his defensive midfield role.

Villa are only two points off the top of the table at the time of writing, and two points behind Arsenal themselves.

They won’t want to sell one of their in-form players in January, and we’ve already seen that they’re willing to stand firm against bids for Luiz from north London.

Arsenal’s admiration may not end up leading to much unless something changes.