Arsenal to loan out Marquinhos in January?

The 19-year-old has made an immediate impression since arriving from Sao Paulo for a £3m fee in the summer and has quickly been promoted to first-team action.

After scoring three goals in three games for the Under-21s, Marquinhos joined the first team for training and has made the bench for the Gunners' last three Premier League games.

The Brazil youth international was handed his first start for the club in Thursday's Europa League clash with FC Zurich, where he scored his first goal for the club in that 2-1 win.

Marquinhos also provided the assist for Eddie Nketiah's game-winning header at Kybunpark, and his arrival has helped ease the pressure on Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side.

The Gunners were initially expected to loan out Marquinhos upon signing him in the summer, but the teenager played his way into Arteta's plans after impressing at youth level.

However, The Sun claims that Arteta would still be keen to let Marquinhos leave on loan midway through the season in order to enjoy regular game time elsewhere.

With Saka indispensable on the right-hand side of the attack in the Premier League, Marquinhos would likely be restricted to starts in the Europa League and cup competitions this term.

Nevertheless, the report adds that Marquinhos has already won over the Arsenal squad, and Gunners chiefs have already decided that the starlet will be a part of Arsenal's long-term future.

Marquinhos registered four goals and three assists in 42 outings for Sao Paulo before signing for Arsenal, who supposedly beat Wolverhampton Wanderers to his signature.

The arrival of Marquinhos allowed Arteta to do away with £72m man Nicolas Pepe, who has returned to Nice on loan for the 2022-23 season after falling behind Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli in the pecking order.

However, Marquinhos will reportedly only be allowed to leave on loan if Arsenal can strike a deal for a new winger in January, and they were linked with a number of attackers over the summer.

Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane - who worked with Arteta at Manchester City - was mentioned as a possible target, as was Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby.

Before adding to their attacking ranks, a new face in the midfield will likely be the priority for Arsenal, who tried and failed to sign Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz on deadline day following injuries to Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny.

While Elneny is out for a number of months, Partey is supposedly expected to return from a thigh issue in time for Sunday's Premier League clash with Brentford.