Cygan off as transfer action continues at Arsenal
Arsene Wenger is still operating on various fronts as transfer window closes
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Thursday, 31, Aug 2006 10:30
Spanish side Villarreal have signed Arsenal's French defender Pascal Cygan for £2 million as transfer rumours continue to swirl around the Emirates Stadium late into transfer deadline day.
The 32-year-old was one of Arsene Wenger's many signings from French football, but perhaps not his most successful one.
He joined the Gunners four years ago from Lille, but never quite made a first-team spot his own.
He made 98 appearances during his time at the club, but regular and costly mistakes meant the Highbury faithful never warmed to him.
Another defender who has more obviously been courting a move away from the club is England left-back Ashley Cole.
Despite Chelsea's chief executive Peter Kenyon's last-day attempt to forge a deal, with no news of a move, it seems that Cole may be forced to try and make his peace with the Arsenal fans, at least until January.
While BBC Radio Five Live has reported that a deal has been struck with Real Madrid to exchange forward Jose Antonio Reyes for the powerful Brazilian Julio Baptista.
Reyes has made his desire to head back to his native Spain clear and Baptista, a player who Wenger tracked last summer, has been told that his chances at the Bernabeu under Fabio Capello will be few and far between.
The reported deal will be initially a loan arrangement with the option of making it permanent after one year.