Transfer news: Newcastle reject Arsenal offer of £10m for midfielder Yohan Cabaye

3-1 defeat on Saturday has led to large areas of the fans calling for significant money to be spent on the squad but Cabaye will do little to calm the Gunners defensive crisis

Arsenal appear to have reacted to Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa by making a bid for Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

But Press Association Sport is reporting that Newcatle have immediately rejected the offer, with Cabaye set to feature in their Premier League opener against Manchester City later tonight.

The Gunners were embarrassed in the 3-1 defeat at the Emirates, finishing with 10-men after Laurent Koscielny was sent-off, with fans also witnessing Villa striker Christian Benteke score two penalties – the first requiring a rebound header after Wojciech Szczęsny made an initial save – resulting in chants towards manager Arsene Wenger that money needed to be spent on improving the squad.

The Gunners have made a bid for 27-year-old Cabaye, who has been under speculation over a move away from St James’ Park this summer, with a fee of £10m being suggested on the proposed fee.

However, manager Alan Pardew confirmed just last week that there had been no official offers made for the Frenchman, although that appears to have changed with the north Londoners making an bid in an attempt to add to the lone signing of Yaya Sanogo, who joined at the beginning of the transfer window on a free transfer.

The move appears to mirror the late spur of signings made in 2011 following the embarrassing 8-2 defeat to Manchester United, which triggered the deadline day signings of Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos.

While Cabaye would strengthen a midfield that is looking remarkably fragile ahead of the Gunners’ Champions League play-off tie against Fenerbahce this week, he is unlikely to turn around fortunes at the Emirates, with fans demanding the club invest on the world class signings that were promised at the end of last season.

They have already seen Gonzalo Higuain head to Napoli after officials failed to agree a deal with Real Madrid, while Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo chose to head to Wolfsburg over a move to England, which saw alarm bells ringing as to why a Brazilian international would turn down a top-four English club for a bottom-half Bundesliga side.

Luis Suarez looks likely to remain with Liverpool after Arsenal bid £40m plus £1 for his services, and there appears to be no follow-up to the interest expressed in Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, with Chelsea looking his likely destination should he leave Old Trafford.

Despite Cabaye being a stand-out player in the Magpies midfield, Arsenal already have Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Thomas Rosicky and Santi Cazorla to compete in midfield as well as Abou Diaby on the long-term injury list.

The fact that they have one fit and available centre-back in Per Mertesacker for next weekend’s trip to Fulham should be at the forefront of concerns, and with interest in Swansea defender Ashley Williams yet to prosper into anything official, the Gunners’ pains look set to continue for the time being.