Arsenal are in advanced negotiations to sign 25-year-old midfielder Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus, according to reports, and they apparently want him in place for the North London derby.

BENEVENTO, ITALY - NOVEMBER 28: Melo Arthur of Juventus during the Serie A match between Benevento Calcio and Juventus at Stadio Ciro Vigorito on November 28, 2020 in Benevento, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
BENEVENTO, ITALY: Melo Arthur of Juventus during the Serie A match between Benevento Calcio and Juventus at Stadio Ciro Vigorito on November 28, 2020. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Football.London are now reporting that Arsenal want to sign Arthur from Juventus on loan in time to have him play in the North London derby this weekend.

Recently, RMC claimed that Arsenal’s current priority is to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo and that negotiations with the Serie A club are advanced for a loan move for the 25-year-old.

Nabil Djellit of France Football also confirmed Arsenal’s interest in Arthur on Tuesday night.

Giacomo Iacobellis of TuttoMercatoWeb added that there has been renewed contact between the relevant parties in recent hours, and Melo is open to a move.

It now depends on Juventus.

Sky Italia (via GIFN) reported last week that Arsenal were back in for the Brazilian, though they hadn’t made contact with Juventus at the time.

Sky believed Arthur could be allowed to leave this month, and it seems Arsenal are now trying to push that move through.

Fabrizio Romano reported at the time that Arthur was one of three names on Arsenal’s midfield list this month, and that a loan deal had been discussed.

REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY: Melo Arthur of Juventus runs with the ball during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Juventus at Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore on May 12, 2021. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini / Getty Images)
REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY: Melo Arthur of Juventus runs with the ball during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Juventus at Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore on May 12, 2021. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini / Getty Images)

Arthur’s profile makes sense for a January Arsenal signing.

He ranks highly for progressive passes, particularly into the final third, and progressive carries, as well as for successful pressures off the ball and passing under pressure on it.

On a loan deal, the move would fill a spot in the Arsenal squad vacated by Thomas Partey, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and Mohamed Elneny this month, whilst allowing the club to make a longer-term move in the summer.

But, if that’s the plan, Arsenal need to get it done quickly.

There’s no point leaving a deal for Arthur until deadline day, by which point the team will already have felt almost the full effects of Partey’s absence.