Premier League giants Arsenal are set to miss out on one of the prime January targets Tony Sanabria of Barcelona, after reports in Spain emerged that the player has bid farewell to his team-mates to join Italian giants AS Roma.

The highly talented 17-year-old was close to joining the Gunners, if the reports are to be believed. We have been keenly following the development of the saga, and wrote on many occasions that Arsenal are front-runners in the chase to land the youngster.

In the midweek of December, the player’s agent Raul Verdu said: “Our contacts with Arsenal are advanced and I expect a solution in the next week.”

ÚLTIMA HORA | Tonny Sanabria se ha despedido de todos sus compañeros del Barça y les ha anunciado que se va a la Roma. Más info, en breve

— Diario SPORT (@sport) January 8, 2014

Roma are thought to be in the race for the youngster, who once claimed that he is excited to be linked with a club like Arsenal.

However, since then the interest from Arsenal have cooled down and it seems like Roma have sealed the deal, by paying his release clause.

The youngster already decided that he won’t be continuing his career with Barcelona and Catalan newspaper Sport has confirmed that he is now all set to join the Gialorossi for a paltry fee of just €3m.

Should Arsenal have shown more seriousness in this deal Let us know your reactions below…