Roy Hodgson has confirmed that he expects Patrick van Aanholt to stay at Crystal Palace amid talk of a deadline day transfer to Arsenal.
The Gunners' search for defensive reinforcements before the January transfer window closes has seen them linked with a move for the Dutchman following Mikel Arteta's wish to bring in cover for Kieran Tierney at left-back.
"With the departure of Kola we’re a little bit short with a left-footed full-back at the moment," Arteta said in a pre-match press conference last month. "We can use Ainsley there, we can use Bukayo there, we can use Cedric who’s played in that position.
"We have some options. But a natural option to Kieran obviously we don’t, but we can adapt. We will be looking to see what is available.
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Arsenal had been linked with a move for Southampton's Ryan Bertrand, but in recent days it appears their attention has turned to van Aanholt.
However, they are set to face some disappointment in any attempts to sign the Palace defender whom Hodgson believes has the quality to play for the north London outfit.
"Not that I know of. If you say to me, 'is Patrick van Aanholt a good enough player to play for Arsenal', I say: 'Yes he is'.
"But I mean he's a good enough player to play for lots of clubs, not least of all our own," Hodgson told reporters.
"This is where he's contracted and this is where I'm expecting him to stay."
Then when asked if van Aanholt to Arsenal would be a shock, the Palace boss agreed.
"That would be a real surprise to me, yeah," he added.
With that said, Arteta has assured Arsenal fans that work is going on behind the scenes in an attempt to secure some late business.
"The last day of the window is always unpredictable, things can happen. It might happen, it might not happen," he told a press conference. "We are on it."
