Arsenal boss Arteta ready to keep hold of Newcastle target Willock

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Arsenal boss Arteta ready to keep hold of Newcastle target Willock

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is ready to keep hold of Joe Willock.

The Northern Echo says Magpies boss Steve Bruce confirmed in May the club were interested in keeping the 21-year-old on a permanent basis, but such a deal is looking increasingly unlikely.

Arteta has been impressed by Willock's application and attitude since returning for pre-season this week and is therefore willing to give the midfielder the next month to prove his worth.

That audition begins on Tuesday evening when Arsenal play Hibernian at Easter Road as part of their five-day pre-season training camp in Scotland.

The report adds that the Gunners were open to letting Willock go at the start of the window, but that stance has now changed after Spaniard Arteta ran the rule over him during the first week of pre-season.