Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was key to Arsenal signing Dani Ceballos.

The Daily Mail says Unai Emery's side were only able to beat Tottenham to the signing of Ceballos because of Real Madrid president Perez.

Tottenham were interested in signing the Spain international on a permanent transfer.

But Perez didn't want that to happen, instead choosing to loan the midfielder out for 12 months.

That suited Arsenal, rather than Tottenham, who swooped to secure the player's signature.

And whether Ceballos comes back to haunt Spurs in the north London derby remains to be seen.