Henrikh Mkhitaryan pictured at central London hotel ahead of Arsenal move

HENRIKH MKHITARYAN has been pictured at a central London hotel alongside agent Mino Raiola ahead of his move to Arsenal.

The departing Manchester United midfielder is part of a straight swap with Gunners forward Alexis Sanchez.

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Mkhitaryan was seen with a beaming smile as his move to Arsene Wenger's Gunners looks set to be made official within the next 48 hours.

The Armenian winger has agreed a move to the Emirates, with Sanchez going the other way.

The deal is said to be a straight swap with no money involved – and all paperwork is complete.

Mkhitaryan will undergo a medical in the next two days after Sanchez travelled to Manchester to undergo his.

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The length of Mkhitaryan’s contract and his salary remain undisclosed for now.

Wenger confirmed Sanchez was on his way north when asked why the Chile forward was not involved in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace today.

Wenger said: “I didn’t take him because there is the question of him moving to Manchester United. And you cannot drive up north and as well play football!

“That’s difficult so, that’s why I decided to leave him out. I expect it to happen, maybe but I cannot announce it. In the next 48 hours, it will be decided one way or the other.”

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Wenger was clear though that the move was only going to happen so long as Mkhitaryan’s switch came to fruition too.

He added: “Sanchez will only happen if Mkhitaryan comes here. That will be decided in the next 48 hours. It is a possibility.”

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, speaking about the switch, said after his side’s victory over Burnley: “Expect soon or never.

“So close, so close, so close, if it doesn’t happen it is not going to happen. I know my people doing absolutely everything they can. I think they will be successful.”

United beat Arsenal to the capture of former Borussia Dortmund star Mkhitaryan when he signed in July 2016.

But his spell at Old Trafford was not an overly successful one, making 63 appearances in all and scoring 13 goals.

Raiola earlier this week said his man was key to Sanchez’s proposed switch.