Thomas Partey will undergo Arsenal Medical in Spain

Atlético de Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey will undergo an Arsenal medical exam on Monday night as the Gunners look to rush the signing before the transfer deadline.

Partey has been the only constant target of Mikel Arteta throughout the window. There have been other names in the draw, such as Jorginho and Houssem Aouar, but Partey has been the preferred signing as Arteta seeks to add energy and dynamism to his midfield ranks.

However, the deal had stalled throughout September, and Arsenal were reluctant to comply with the £ 45m release clause Atléti was so determined to achieve. When it was first learned, then, that the club was seeking to reactivate the deal in the final hour, it was vehemently denied in Spain, and Sky claimed that Diego Simeone’s team had no intention of selling.

Since then, however, things have picked up steam again and now it looks like he could realistically come to a deal before the 11pm deadline. Chris Wheatley builds on what Goal’s Charles Watts previously noted, stating that a medical examination will be carried out in Spain “shortly”, presumably because there would be no time to take him to London.

Atléti had been adamant about not selling, but he was aware that he had no recourse if Arsenal went crazy and paid the buyout clause. It seems more and more that this is what has happened: the North London club has collapsed in the last hour, clearly not in the mood for a full season with Mohamed Elneny starting in midfield.

Arsenal have long lacked a midfielder in the Thomas mold, possibly since Patrick Vieira left the club in 2005. His physical attributes will bring a new dimension to Arteta’s side, which have started the Premier League season in impressive form .