Highly rated Bolton Wanderers centre-half Rob Holding is on the verge of signing for Arsenal, with The Bolton News stating that the defender passed a Gunners medical on Monday night.
The England under-21 star impressed last season in The Championship and was a rare bright spark for the club in their relegation to League One.
Holding is said to have caught the gaze of a host of Premier League sides and a scramble for his services was expected to have broken out this summer.
However, Arsenal look set to win the race for the progressive youngster after a reported £2.5 million offer was accepted by Bolton.
Arsene Wenger could use an extra centre-half in his first-team squad but it is expected that Holding will play a fringe role and continue his development in the reserves.
The defender started 26 league games for Bolton last season, scoring one goal in the process.
