Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident £12 million will be enough to land Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta.

The Sun says Wenger is convinced he can prise the Everton playmaker from Goodison Park.

And he has been given the green light by his board to make a firm offer.

Cash-strapped Everton will find it hard to resist, despite boss David Moyes' reluctance to lose his star player.

Wenger has earmarked the Spaniard as an ideal replacement for Cesc Fabregas, who is out for four months with knee ligament damage.

Wenger wants an experienced player who can go straight into his team without needing time to settle in.

The Frenchman did consider making another move for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso after failing with a £15m bid in August.

But he knows he does not stand a chance of persuading Rafa Benitez to sell - and believes Arteta is a more realistic target.