Arsenal appear ready to go all-out to recruit David Villa. The Spanish striker has been a long-time target for the winter window, but Barcelona have been reluctant at best to allow him to leave the club.

As the transfer deadline looms (Thursday, in case you weren't sure), Arsenal are confident they can push through what would be a marquee transfer.

Breakthrough

Arsene Wenger has refused to accept defeat in his pursuit of the forward and has been encouraged that the runaway La Liga leaders have softened their stance on selling him in recent days.

Sources have suggested that Villa is “very keen” to join Arsenal after growing frustrated with his lack of opportunities at the Nou Camp.

Wenger is a long-time admirer of Villa, who turned 31 last month, and is prepared to pay up to £13.8 million to sign him on a permanent deal and match his current £110,000-a-week wages. This in itself is a departure for Arsenal, let alone for a 31 year-old. The striker performed the closest thing to a transfer request, which does not exist in Spain, by telling the hierarchy at Barcelona that he wanted to join Arsenal this month, rather than waiting until summer.

Whether this is responsible for Barcelona's new stance is unknown, but Villa has been making a lot of noise.

Deadly

Despite returning from a leg break this season, the striker has scored 10 goals in a minimal number of appearances, including 12 starts, making him Barca's second-highest scorer. He can of course play all along the forward line and would represent the sternest of competition for Messrs Giroud and Walcott.

He has some of the highest shot accuracy in Europe, and best of all he wants to play for Arsenal.

Dick Law is believed to have travelled to Spain to negotiate the structure of the deal, including the waiving of various clauses in the Fabregas and Song deals, and this leverage could help to push the deal through.

Arsenal have until Thursday night. Let's hope that's long enough.

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