According to reports from the Mirror, the defender was omitted from the La Liga side's Champions League clash against Braga in preparation for his move to North London.

Unfortunately for Sevilla, his absence was conspicuous as the Spanish side fell to a 1-0 defeat to Braga.

Signing the 30-year-old French defender will be a departure from the norm for Wenger, given his age, but Squillaci could add some much-needed experience in the Arsenal backline, which was lacking again against Liverpool over the weekend.

Arsenal will now wait on Fulham boss Mark Hughes's decision on whether or not to release goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who has apparently handed in a transfer request after Arsenal's initial bid for the Australian was rejected by the Cottagers.