Malaga defender set to complete £8.5m Arsenal move

Arsenal are set to sign a Spaniard before tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline. Sadly for excited Arsenal fans in the Football Transfer Tavern, it’s not Barcelona striker David Villa but Malaga left back Nacho Monreal.

According to Mail Online, the defender is in London ironing out the finishing touches to a £8.5 million deal which will see the 26-year-old become Arsene Wenger first and only signing of the January transfer window.

He was set to join up with the North London club during the summer but the deal has been fast tracked following the injury sustained by Kieran Gibbs during last night’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool.

Monreal, who will be unable to play against Bayern Munich in the upcoming Champions League tie, could even start for the Gunners on Saturday for the visit of Stoke City with Wenger rightly losing faith in the terrible Andre Santos.

The Spanish defender, who is a former team mate of Santi Cazorla, joined Malaga from Osasuna in the summer of 2011 and has since established himself as one of the finest full backs in La Liga.

Wenger has failed to land major target David Villa and reports linking Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta with a move to the Emirates Stadium appear to have been wide of the mark.

However the Frenchman will just be happy to see a left back arriving through the doors at the Emirates Stadium, given the thought of Santos facing up to the brilliant Arjen Robben is really not worth thinking about.

Arsenal fans. Are you excited about Nacho Monreal’s impending arrival? Let us know your thoughts below.