Arsenal have reportedly joined AS Monaco in the race to pursue Gelson Martins on a temporary basis from Atletico Madrid for the season.
The Gunners had held an interest in the Portuguese during the summer before he secured the switch to Atleti from hometown club Sporting.
Since then, the attacker has not enjoyed the best of times with the Europa League holders with just one start in the Spanish top-flight and O Jogo claims that he is likely to be loaned out amid the impending arrival of Alvaro Morata.
It is added that the Gunners are in a straight fight with Thierry Henry’s Monaco to sign the Portugal international and Martins has the decision to make as to which kind of challenge he would prefer for the remainder of the season.
Arsenal are presently on the hunt for a new wide player and Martins certainly suits the requirements, given he is available on a temporary deal which the Gunners after for the current transfer window.
Nonetheless, the north London club are also said to be making progress towards signing Denis Suarez from Barcelona and the Spaniard could be favoured ahead of Martins, given his former association with Unai Emery at Sevilla.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have made no progress in terms of bolstering the backline and the same could remain the case for the rest of the window despite season-ending injuries for Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding.
Holding suffered an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury during the league clash versus Manchester United and the same seems to have hampered Bellerin against Chelsea, which leaves him sweating to return before the beginning of next term.
