Inter Milan 2, the Premier League 0. After Inter's extraordinary coup of landing Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri ahead of Liverpool, the Nerazzurri have done it again - this time with Marcelo Brozovic.

Dinamo Zagreb were ready to sell this month - and Arsenal were all set to become Brozovic's new home.

But like with Shaqiri, Inter took advantage of Premier League dithering and bish-bash-bosh, in a matter of 48 hours, Dinamo had settled terms with the Italians and one of Europe's most coveted young midfielders was on his way to Milan on Saturday night.

"I had wanted to join Liverpool over the summer, but Bayern would not agree to it," recalled Shaqiri upon inking his Inter deal. "That was not easy for me, but I had to accept it. That's why I am glad that it has worked out with this move in the winter."

Now Gooners, along with fans from Everton and Tottenham, can join the Kop in envying Inter's fast-moving front office - driven by coach Roberto Mancini and aided by adviser Nicola Giuliani.

Just last week, Brozovic's agent Miroslav Bicanic was convinced his client was going to the Premier League.

"We have offers from big English clubs," he said on Tuesday, "but I can't name names."

Bicanic was convinced no Serie A club could get a deal over the line at this stage of the season. But Inter, as they did with Bayern for Shaqiri, were able to convince Zoran Mamic, Dinamo's charismatic manager, who also doubles as their sporting director, to agree to an initial loan arrangement with an €8 million fee due in June.

There is some sympathy for Arsene Wenger. It wasn't just the Arsenal manager who was caught napping. No-one saw this one coming, not even the well-connected Croatian press, with Inter only emerging as a potential destination on Friday.

Indeed, one of Brozovic's last interviews he granted discussing his future centred on Arsenal.

"I do not know anything about them (Arsenal). This question is not for me. Believe me, I am not thinking about a transfer from Dinamo," he said going into the winter market.

Asked about 'fitting into the Premier League', Brozovic joked: "I'd like to think so. I think I can fit my body in there!"

The 22 year-old comes from good stock, with father, Ivan Brozovic, also enjoying a professional career.

"I saw in him a talent," recalled Ivan. "Everyone can work, painstakingly train, but in the end you have to have something special.

"I saw this in him, although I never thought that he would end up with Dinamo.

"But I wanted him to have everything that I never had as a player."

There's some irony that in the week Jorge Mendes again raised Arsenal's failure to beat Manchester United to Cristiano Ronaldo's signing, the Gunners have failed again in the transfer market.

As a holding midfielder, he's a different type of player to Ronaldo, but for Arsenal and Wenger, just the type the team is desperately short of.

Former Dinamo coach Ilija Loncarevic has no doubts - Brozovic has the potential to become one of Europe's best.

"He is already now, at 22 years of age, a player who will win you games. His influence is just emerging as a leader on the field, as the organizer of the game. His potential is enormous, his technical and playing awareness is at a world class level and I am confident that he could play for any team in Europe," declared the HNK Gorica coach, now 70.

"You just watch, he will continue to improve. They say he is a defensive midfielder. But I think he can move further forward. He'll score more goals and do so consistently. With the right coach, he will quickly eliminate the negative parts of his game."

Congratulations, Inter. And for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, the search (at least we think you're searching) goes on...