Henrikh Mkhitaryan is demanding Arsenal better his contract at Manchester United for him to move to London.
The Mirror says the Armenian holds the key to Alexis Sanchez's move in the opposite direction to Manchester United.
Arsenal remain confident the deal will get done this week with both players valued at around £35million.
But Mkhitaryan's agent Mino Raiola has laid out a set of demands after insisting the United midfielder is in no rush to leave Old Trafford.
Mkhitaryan, 28, has got three and a half years left on his £150,000-a-week contract, wants a pay rise to go to Arsenal and will also want a “golden handshake" to leave United.