Mikel Arteta flies to Denver for crucial talks with Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke

Mikel Arteta has flown to Denver to discuss Arsenal’s striker situation with owner Stan Kroenke, with the club facing crunch decisions ahead of the closure of the transfer window.

Top of head coach Arteta’s agenda is believed to be how much Arsenal are willing to spend on a new striker in the final days of the window after Juventus jumped ahead of the Gunners in the race for Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic.

Arteta and Arsenal could also face disappointment over Alexander Isak, who is believed to hold reservations over moving to the Gunners this month and whose club Real Sociedad would want his £76million release clause paid immediately and in full.

Arsenal have also been linked with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who Everton would value at well over £50m, and Arteta has made the trip to Denver for face-to-face talks with Kroenke over the size of his budget.

Juventus have made a bid of £62m for Vlahovic and the Serbian is now expected to move to Turin, leaving Arsenal to look elsewhere after Arteta’s team scored just one goal during the club’s last five games.

Arteta and Kroenke will also discuss Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s situation, with Arsenal yet to decide whether or not they are willing to loan the striker to a European rival this month.

Arsenal were happy to send Aubameyang on loan to Saudi Arabia, but the player does not want to move there and a host of European clubs are now waiting to find out whether or not they can land the Gabon international.

The delay in a decision from the Gunners is already cutting down Aubameyang’s options, however, as Juve have moved for Vlahovic, Sevilla are taking Anthony Martial on loan instead, and Barcelona could move for Alvaro Morata.

That would still leave Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille and AC Milan in the hunt for Aubameyang, but the 32-year-old needs the green light to negotiate a loan move within Europe.

Arteta watched Colorado Avalanche beat Chicago Blackhawks at a National League hockey game with Kroenke on Monday night and the Spaniard will travel on to Dubai for an Arsenal training camp once he leaves the United States.