Arsenal set to allow forgotten player to leave after just 18 months at the club

Arsenal are set to allow forgotten winger Marquinhos to leave the club on a permanent basis, according to reports, despite only signing the Brazilian 18 months ago.

The 20-year-old was part of the contingent of incoming transfers that arrived at the Emirates Stadium in the summer of 2022, along with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira.

But while the latter three players quickly became important players for Arsenal, Marquinhos was earmarked as one for the future.

Still, he made three appearances for Mikel Arteta's side in the Europa League last term, and made his Premier League debut during a 3-0 win over Brentford in September 2022.

But with first team opportunities largely limited, the winger joined Championship side Norwich on loan for the rest of the 2022/23 season.

At Carrow Road, he made a total of 11 league appearances, scoring one goal and picking up one red card for a perceived elbow, which was later overturned.

He moved to Ligue 1 side Nantes on loan at the beginning of this season, but made just one start in the French top flight and was recalled by Arsenal last month. He has recently been away with the Brazil U23 squad, who have been aiming to secure their qualification for the 2024 Olympics tournament in Paris.

But according to new reports, it appears that the Gunners have decided to allow him to depart the club.

Brazilian outlet Globo claim that Arsenal have agreed a loan deal with Fluminense, which will see Marquinhos join up with the squad once he has finished his commitments with the national team.

Crucially, it is reported that there is an option to buy clause, meaning that the 20-year-old will have played his last game for the Gunners if Fluminense choose to activate that clause at the end of his loan spell.

Marquinhos initially joined Arsenal from Brazilian football, having graduated through the Sao Paulo academy before choosing to leave the club.