Arsenal ‘done’ deal was hijacked by La Liga side on deadline day

An Arsenal transfer target was reportedly on the brink of signing for the Premier League champions before instead joining a club in La Liga.

The Gunners won their first two matches of the Premier League season and the strength of their bench at Aston Villa on Monday was a reminder to the rest of the division that they're the team to beat.

While some pundits have questioned Arsenal's lack of a new striker signing, their transfer business in previous windows makes them a formidable force with the kind of depth other can only dream about.

Nevertheless, it's understood that Arsenal were in the market for attacking reinforcements. According to Chema Aragon, sporting director at newly promoted La Liga outfit Racing Santander, the North London club were close to signing forward Pablo Garcia from Real Betis.

The 20-year-old, who is from Seville, left his boyhood club for Santander at the end of the summer transfer window.

Speaking at a press conference after the window closed, Aragon said: "It seemed like it was done with Arsenal, and then we came in too on loan. [On Tuesday] things changed, and what seemed to be a loan turned into a shared ownership deal.

"I would describe Pablo Garcia as Raul Gonzalez Blanco, what he has above all else is a nose for goal, that killer instinct, and he usually puts it away.

"When the real opportunity arose to sign that player, we didn’t hesitate for a second."

READ MORE: Arsenal agree another signing after transfer window officially closes - but there's a catch

Real Betis president reacts to Pablo Garcia Arsenal links

Aragon's claim is contradicted by comments made by Angel Haro, the Betis president, who denied that any Arsenal move was close.

Marca reported on Haro's clarification, which indicated that the Arsenal connection was driven by Garcia's agents with a view to the player being loaned straight back to a team in Spain's top flight.

According to the Betis chief, there was no contact between the clubs nor any kind of approach from the Gunners.

Newly promoted Segunda champions Racing have started the new season with a win, a draw and a defeat in La Liga.

Garcia, who was also linked with Premier League newcomers Hull CIty, hasn't yet appeared for his new club but bid a tearful farewell to Betis having scored the winning goal against Valencia last month.

The Spanish under-21 international has become a poster boy for criticism of the modern transfer market system, the suggestion being that he was forcibly sold by Betis out of cold, hard necessity after 15 years at the club he loves.

This, too, is denied by the club's president.

"The club hasn't pushed him into anything. For about three weeks now, Pablo felt it was his time to leave, and he made this clear to us repeatedly," said Haro.

"We still believe Pablo has potential, which is why we retained 50% of the player's rights; we also retained a right of first refusal.

"On the one hand, his career demanded a move, and on the other, it's sad to leave the team he loves. Both things are compatible. I respect his departure. He came to collect his belongings and broke down in tears, but we didn't cause his departure; we simply respected the player's wishes."