Arsenal want to sign Real Madrid midfielder on a permanently deal

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal wants to strike a deal with Real Madrid to keep hold of midfield dynamo Dani Ceballos.

The 23-year-old Spaniard has become a key figure for the Gunners as his season-long loan has progressed, and he scored the last-minute winner in the FA Cup win over Sheffield United last weekend.

Ceballos also showed his passion for the cause when he charged off the bench back onto the pitch to celebrate Alexandre Lacazette’s clincher at Wolves on Saturday.

And that infectious enthusiasm has clearly rubbed off on Arteta, who said: “I am really happy with him.

“I love how much he likes to play football, the passion he puts into every training session and in every game. His celebrations, whether he’s on the pitch or on the bench, he puts his life into it.

He’s evolving the right way and has become a really important player for us.

“We are talking to the club – obviously we don’t own the player, it’s not in our hands. The clubs need to have communication and see what we can do.”