Arsenal remain hopeful their frantic deadline-day attempts to complete the signing of Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin will culminate in success. It's understood that the Gunners submitted the necessary paperwork to the Premier League ahead of Monday's 5pm deadline and are confident of announcing a deal today.

But the transfer could not be processed last night, leaving Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger sweating on whether or not his number one target would be confirmed as an Arsenal player.

Amazingly for a deal which has been under discussion for the duration of the January transfer window, the proposed move went to the wire.

If Arshavin does become a Gunner, it is likely to cost manager Arsene Wenger between €13 million and €16 million - potentially a club record.

It is believed Arshavin would wear the number 13 shirt vacated by Alexander Hleb when he joined Barcelona last year.

The transfer looked likely to proceed in a relatively straightforward fashion when the Zenit St Petersburg midfielder was pictured in Hertfordshire yesterday morning, having flown into England yesterday.

However, sources close to the deal soon revealed Arshavin was on his way back to a London airport and the transfer was on the brink of collapse.

But negotiations continued behind the scenes with the asking price, personal terms and a possible payment from Arshavin to Zenit all mooted as potential sticking points.