They thought they had their breakthrough on Wednesday when talks with Crystal Palace moved forward for Eberechi Eze, a player they had tracked since his early days at Loftus Road, only to see Arsenal step in and snatch him at the final stage.

Eze has undergone a medical with Arsenal and an official announcement of a £67.5million deal is expected imminently. Meanwhile, Arsenal fan ‘North Bansky’ celebrated the deal by stencilling an image of Eze on a tunnel outside the Emirates Stadium. The mural showed Eze in an Arsenal shirt doing his trademark celebration.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace after hijacking rivals Tottenham's deal for the talented midfielder.