Fernando Llorente Not Ready to Give in to Arsenal Overtures

Fernando Llorente showed he is up for the fight of reviving his Juventus career before it's barely begun while shunning suggestions he wants a January window move to Arsenal to reignite his World Cup hopes.

Despite only joining the Bianconeri in the summer from Athletic Bilbao, reports have already suggested that Llorente wants to leave Serie A in the New Year, given his limited first-team opportunities.

The Spanish forward has played second fiddle to Carlos Tevez, who joined from Manchester City in the summer, for much of the season playing just one minute in the club's first five games of the campaign.

Opportunities have improved for Llorente, starting the weekend's 4-2 defeat to Fiorentina, and he rewarded Antonio Conte's faith on Wednesday when chosen from the start against Real Madrid.

After Crisitano Ronaldo had clipped Real ahead, Llorente reacted first after Iker Casillas palmed away Paul Pogba's header, to equalise after 22 minutes.

Ronaldo struck the eventual winner on the half hour from the penalty spot before Giorgio Chiellini's dismissal ended Juventus' hopes of snatching a point, but Llorente's contribution will not have gone unnoticed by both Conte and Spain manager Vicente del Bosque.

The 28 year old has been omitted from the last three Spain squads, missing the climax to the World Cup holders' successful qualifying campaign for Brazil next year.

He last featured in the friendly win over Ecuador in August and should he continue to be marginalised at Juve his World Cup place could be doubt.

Alvaro Negredo and Pedro were the nominated strikers in Del Bosque's squad for the qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia and the trend of overloading the squad with midfielders could see the forward miss out.

Reports have suggested that Llorente is already consigned to being down the pecking order behind Tevez for much of the season and will look to move on in January in order to breathe new life into his World Cup hopes.

The January window is likely to be among the busiest in recent memory with a number of players likely to swap clubs in order to increase their chances of travelling with their countries to Brazil next year.

Arsenal are hoping to take advantage of Llorente's desperation and solve problems of their own in attack with Olivier Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner the only recognised senior forwards available to manager Arsene Wenger.

Following eight years without a major trophy, Arsenal look as equipped as ever to claim silverware this season and a run of 10 wins in their last 12 games in all competitions has assisted their rise to the Premier league summit.

But with Arsenal possessing little depth in attack questions are still be asked over their ability to last the pace both domestically and in Europe.