Arsenal agree record £56m sale of Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal as transfer deadline looms

Arsenal have agreed to sell Gabriel Martinelli to Saudi club Al-Hilal in a deal worth more than £55.7 million, eclipsing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £35m move to Liverpool as the club's record sale. The Brazilian winger, 25, has been cleared to fly to Saudi Arabia, where he will undergo a medical before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract. Martinelli fell out of Arteta's first-team plans after losing his starting berth to Leandro Trossard, with Christos Tzolis then arriving as first-choice left winger.

Friday's Saudi Pro League fixture against Al-Shabab could serve as Martinelli's first appearance for Al-Hilal.

He follows Ollie Watkins through the doors at Al-Hilal, who joined from Aston Villa for £45m.

Arsenal's hopes of signing Julian Alvarez have faded after he told Arteta he does not want to move to England.