Mikel Arteta is set to welcome his second addition of the January transfer window to Arsenal with a deal for Martin Odegaard set to be completed.
The Gunners are in the hunt for a boost of midfield creativity and were alerted to the availability of the 22-year-old this week.
Norway international Odegaard requested to leave the Spanish capital due to frustrations around a lack of football, having played just five minutes since the start of December.
Real Sociedad, where Odegaard shone during a loan spell last season, were quickly established as favourites but the Basque side look set to miss out.
According to Diario Vasco, the reason behind this is that Zinedine Zidane's side rejected La Real's approach due to the competitive battle between the two sides.
Sociedad have impressed this season and are in the hunt for Champions League football, though they currently sit seven points behind a Los Blancos side who still have a game in hand.
However, last season's title-winners have flattered to deceive this season and back-to-back domestic cup exits in the space of a week have increased the pressure.
As such, there is a danger that Sociedad can claw their way closer towards Real Madrid in the La Liga table and it seems this is something the capital club are wary of.
Signing Odegaard would certainly help the Basque side's chances of securing Champions League football, as he had an impressive impact on the club last season.
In total, he played 31 matches during his loan spell, scoring four goals and contributing six assists as La Real secured a sixth-place finish in La Liga.
