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Arsenal assured Dani Ceballos loan deal still ON despite horror injury to Real Madrid ace Marco Asensio

Mark Irwin

Published: 7:32, 25 Jul 2019
Updated: 8:35, 25 Jul 2019

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ARSENAL have been assured Dani Ceballos will still sign for them this week in spite of Marco Asensio’s horror injury.

Real Madrid star Asensio tore his cruciate ligament and also suffered damage to his left kneecap during Tuesday’s 2-2 draw in Washington.

Dani Ceballos WILL join Arsenal, even though Real Madrid star Marco Asensio is ruled out next seasonCredit: Getty - Contributor

Asensio tore his cruciate ligament and suffered damage to his left kneecap in the 2-2 draw with ArsenalCredit: EPA

The winger, 23, has already been ruled out for the season and there were concerns that could affect Madrid’s plans to send Ceballos out on loan to the Emirates.

But the Gunners have been told the midfielder will still be joining them for the year before returning to the Bernabeu next summer.

Now the North Londoners are planning to announce the arrival of Ceballos, 22, and £27million centre-half William Saliba tomorrow.

Saliba, 18, joins from Saint-Etienne but will be loaned straight back to the French club before returning to the Emirates next summer.

Asensio suffered his horrific injury in an innocuous challenge with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but the Arsenal striker has been absolved of any blame.

AUBA-STAY-ANG

Auba scored his first goal of the pre-season campaign on Tuesday and has been linking well with Alexandre Lacazette up front.

And Unai Emery was quick to dismiss growing speculation that Arsenal could cash in on last season’s joint Golden Boot winner this summer.

Manchester United have been regularly linked with a £70m move for 30-year-old Aubameyang.

But boss Emery said: “We’re very happy with Aubameyang and don’t want to sell him.

“He gives us a lot of options because he can play like a lone striker, as part of a front two and on the left or right wing.

“He gives us so many attacking options and possibilities in the final third and that’s very rich for us.”

WILL KOST YOU DEARLY

Yet Emery is ready to freeze Laurent Koscielny out of his plans.

The Gunners are focusing on Sunday’s Emirates Cup clash against Lyon.

But skipper Koscielny, 33, has been told to stay training with the youth team after he refused to go on the club’s US tour.

Boss Emery will not back down in his row with the wantaway defender, who believes he should be allowed to leave the Gunners this summer for free.

Emery said: “My idea is to continue working with the players that want to be here.

“I respect Koscielny but he has a responsibility to the club and now it is an issue for him and the club.

“I have spoken about him with respect and I tried for him to be with us on our pre-season tour.

“We continue working to try to find a solution but he has decided not to be with us on the tour.”

And there were further defensive concerns for Emery when Shkodran Mustafi was unable to face Real due to a thigh strain, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles suffered a calf strain in the warm-up.

Emery said: “Ainsley felt some pain in his calf and we decided not to risk him.