Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remained tight-lipped on Eberechi Eze's imminent move but revealed the number one factor behind any signing.
The Gunners are closing in on a deal for Eze after agreeing a fee worth £60million upfront, plus £7.5m in add-ons with Crystal Palace earlier in the week.
As the transfer has not been officially announced, Arsenal have therefore missed the registration deadline to have the 27-year-old available to make his debut against Leeds on Saturday.
Standard Sport understands Eze was undergoing his medical on Friday morning and is due to wrap up his move over the weekend.
Nevertheless, in the pre-match press conference for Leeds, Arteta was quizzed about signing Eze and his response was standard for a player who isn't yet contracted to the club.
He said (while smiling): "Nothing to comment. I can never talk about any player that is not part of our group yet."
However, Arteta did stress the importance of getting the sense that any potential signing wants to be at Arsenal.
"That's the number one, that they want to be with us and feel something special to come to us,” he added. “Then the person, what personality we are going to bring - and then the rest comes.
"I think we have done very well in the last few years to create this spirit in the team."
Eze was previously on Arsenal’s books as a youngster and has said he grew up an Arsenal fan. This factor ticks another box for Arteta as he explained what it means to play for a club with a pre-existing connection to.
He added: "The better the feeling, the stronger the feeling then the better always because it brings a different edge, will and emotion to what you do and I think that always brings something extra."
