Report: Long-serving Arsenal player on the brink of quitting club, Edu’s done a blinder

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Joe Willock is reportedly set to leave Arsenal for Newcastle United.

According to The Daily Mail, this transfer saga could be finalised as early as this evening in what would be a £22 million deal.

Willock has been linked with a move to Newcastle all summer and the writing looked on the wall when Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta left him out of last weekend’s defeat by Tottenham.

But fortunately for both clubs, it looks like they can finally draw a line under this and move on to different things.

Blinder

This has divided a lot of Arsenal fans.

Some supporters feel that Arteta should hold on to the 21-year-old – who’s been on the Gunners’ books since the age of four – after scoring eight Premier League goals during a half-season loan with the Magpies last term.

But the truth is, this is a brilliant piece of business by Edu.

Willock is a promising player with a lot of potential, but it’s clear he has no long-term future at Arsenal and the fact that they’re getting £22 million for him is a very good deal.

Remember, Willock has only ever started 12 Premier League games for the Emirates Stadium club, making him a squad player at best.

And let’s be honest, picking up £22 million for an academy product who the current head coach in North London has no long-term plan for has to be considered a very decent piece of business.

He might be a big player for Newcastle, but he never will be at Arsenal under Arteta and therefore this makes complete sense.