Dani Ceballos is set to return to Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid following a crucial intervention from Mikel Arteta.
The Spain international joined the Gunners 12 months ago having been deemed surplus to requirements by Zinedine Zidane and was convinced to join the Gunners by Unai Emery.
Ceballos struggled to make a positive impact under Arteta’s predecessor, but thrived at the heart of Arsenal’s engine room during the latter stages of last season, forming an effective partnership with Granit Xhaka.
The 24-year-old has been forced to wait patiently this summer to learn his fate and had reportedly been keen to rejoin another of his former clubs Real Betis.
Arteta, according to Fabrizio Romano, was desperate for the talented midfielder to return to the Premier League and called him to assure him he would remain an integral part of his plans.
Real are said to have received three other offers for Ceballos, but he will join up with Arsenal’s first team squad imminently as the FA Cup holders intensify their preparations for the new season.
Arteta’s side began their pre-season campaign in impressive fashion, defeating MK Dons 4-1 before claiming the first silverware of the new campaign, beating Liverpool on penalties following a 1-1 draw, a match which Ceballos made sure his legion of followers on social media knew he was watching.
Arteta is yet to add to his midfield this summer, but speaking ahead of the Liverpool match he had been optimistic of his chances of being reunited with Ceballos.
He said: ‘Well, we have some talks and Dani knows really well what I think about him.
‘He was pretty clear with me as well that his intention was to remain with us but obviously Real Madrid is involved and I don’t know yet what they want to do with the player. But he’s a player that we are interested in because we really saw, in the last few months of the season, what he is capable of bringing to us.’
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