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."
