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Arsenal had Mesut Ozil plan B in the shape of Spurs target Hernanes
ARSENAL were set to make a move for Lazio's Brazilian midfielder Hernanes - a summer transfer target for Tottenham - before securing Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.
Ozil made a winning start for the Gunners on his debut at Sunderland, helping Arsene Wenger's side clinch all three points with a 3-1 victory.
But it could have been very different for Arsenal according to Italian sports paper Gazzetta dello Sport, who suggest a deal was in place to take Hernanes to the Emirates before Ozil became available.
Wenger was in the market for a creative midfielder during the transfer window, and bought Ozil for £43million after Real put the German international up for sale following Gareth Bale's £86m move.
But reports in Italy claim Arsenal would have moved for Hernanes - valued at around £20m - had Real kept hold of Ozil.
Hernanes, 28, a central midfielder with 17 caps for Brazil, was looked at by Tottenham this summer before they signed Erik Lamela from Lazio's rivals Roma.
The former Sao Paolo star has made 103 Serie A appearances, scoring 31 goals in the process, with his outstanding goalscoring record also attracting interest from Manchester City earlier this year.