Arsenal players pushed manager Arsene Wenger to sign Danny Welbeck from Manchester United last week. Gunners skipper Mikel Arteta and vice captain Per Mertesacker played a key role in sealing the surprise £16m signing of England star Welbeck.
The Daily Star says the pair took it upon themselves to urge the club to land Welbeck on transfer deadline day after learning only Tottenham were in for the striker.
Spurs wanted to sign Welbeck - who scored both goals in England's 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying win in Switzerland on Monday - on a year's loan from Manchester United.
But Spaniard Arteta and German Mertesacker campaigned for Wenger to snatch the 23-year-old from their bitter north London rivals.
The amazing late drama came after Arteta and Mertesacker met Welbeck in the Arsenal gym at their Hertfordshire training ground.
Welbeck had been training at the complex with England prior to their Wembley friendly against Norway.
As they chatted the Arsenal duo realised there was a chance the Gunners could snap up Welbeck with a surprise bid.
After stating their case, boss Arsene Wenger - who was in Rome to referee a charity football match on deadline day - was persuaded to sanction a last-ditch bid for Welbeck, having failed to land either Radamel Falcao, who joined United, or Swansea's Wilfried Bony.
