Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal are still interested in signing Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo.

GettyImagesFelipe Melo was part of the side that beat Republic of Ireland 2-0

Arsenal had attempted to buy Melo, 26, last summer while he was at Fiorentina, and there were suggestions of a swap deal involving Emmanuel Eboue, but he eventually signed for Juventus.

However, ahead of Brazil's friendly with Republic of Ireland on Tuesday night, Wenger said Arsenal were still looking at the holding midfielder, who has struggled for form at Juve.

"We were interested in Melo during the summer," he said in the match-day programme. "We watched him in Brazil's international at the Emirates, against Italy [in February 2009], when he had an outstanding game.

"Then he went to Juventus and that team has struggled and certainly he has not had the season that everyone predicted he would. We still think he is a very talented player and, with Gilberto Silva, Brazil have a very useful pair in midfield. We are still looking at Melo."