Santi Cazorla is poised to become an Arsenal

Santi Cazorla is poised to become an Arsenal player early next week. The Spain midfielder is in London finalising his move and is expected to join the squad which travels to Germany for a training camp next week. Arsenal will take on Cologne next Sunday in a friendly arranged as part of the deal which brought Lukas Podolski to the Emirates Stadium.

The club have not yet been able to formally announce the signing of Cazorla owing to complications caused by the financial plight of his current club Malaga, but the Spanish side's problems are not expected to jeopardise the completion of the deal.

The recruitment of Cazorla would be the third major signing by Arsenal in the close season, following Podolski and Montpellier forward Olivier Giroud. They have also been linked with the Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin, with Real manager Jose Mourinho saying the player can leave.

Cazorla was part of Spain's victorious Euro 2012 squad, but only featured for 16 minutes during the tournament.

Arsenal striker Benik Afobe has joined Bolton on a season-long loan deal. The 19-year-old England youth international is set for a second spell in the Championship, having ended the last campaign on loan at Reading, who won promotion.