Sebastien Squillaci is set to complete his transfer to Arsenal from Sevilla and the defender admitted he found it “practically impossible” to turn the move down.

The Spanish side have confirmed that they have accepted an offer from the Gunners for the Frenchman, who says that it is hard to turn down the advances of Arsene Wenger.

“If a French player receives an offer from Arsene Wenger, it’s practically impossible to turn down,” he said in the Guardian.

“It was a sensational offer for me and I was happy Sevilla let me go. It was a difficult situation but I knew I had to take this chance.

“I knew if I played against Braga then I would not have been able to play for Arsenal in the Champions League,” said the defender, who refused to play for Sevilla against the Portuguese outfit in last week’s play-off.

“Arsenal were always the team I watched out for. For any spectator like me, you had to watch a squad with Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira and William Gallas. Now, I’m happy to have my name in the history books. For me, this is a great new challenge and I’ve gone there purely to be part of that.

“I don’t think my age is a problem. My experience in football is great and players of my age tend to be at the peak of their playing career.”

The 30-year-old is expected to join before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline and will strengthen the Gunners back-line weakened by the departures of William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell and Philippe Senderos.

A statement on the Sevilla website yesterday evening read: “Defender Sebastien Squillaci is tonight travelling to London to have a medical at Arsenal, the club he will be transferred to after an agreement was reached by the two clubs pending the results of the medical.”

If the transfer does go through this week Squillaci should go straight into the squad to face Blackburn on Saturday. Full Time Result betting has Rovers at 6.00 to get the win, while Arsenal are 1.57 and the draw is 4.00.

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Sevilla defender Sebastien Squillaci admits he found it “practically impossible” to turn down Arsene Wenger’s offer of a move to Arsenal.

The Spanish side have confirmed they have accepted an offer from Arsenal for Frenchman Squillaci, who is expected to have a medical on Tuesday with a view to signing for the Gunners.

“If a French player receives an offer from Arsene Wenger, it’s practically impossible to turn down,” he said in the Guardian.

“It was a sensational offer for me and I was happy Sevilla let me go. It was a difficult situation but I knew I had to take this chance.

“I knew if I played against Braga then I would not have been able to play for Arsenal in the Champions League,” said the defender, who refused to play for Sevilla against the Portuguese outfit in last week’s play-off.

“Arsenal were always the team I watched out for. For any spectator like me, you had to watch a squad with Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira and William Gallas. Now, I’m happy to have my name in the history books. For me, this is a great new challenge and I’ve gone there purely to be part of that.

“I don’t think my age is a problem. My experience in football is great and players of my age tend to be at the peak of their playing career.”

Squillaci, 30, will strengthen an Arsenal rearguard weakened by the departures of William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell and Philippe Senderos if he does put pen to paper and complete a move to Wenger’s men.

A statement on the Sevilla website read: “Defender Sebastien Squillaci is travelling to London to have a medical at Arsenal, the club he will be transferred to after an agreement was reached by the two clubs pending the results of the medical.”

Marseille have ruled out the possibility of signing Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano, following a meeting between the two clubs.

The 29-year-old Brazil international has been linked with a number of teams this summer after an impressive World Cup, and L’OM recently had a bid for the player knocked back.

Fabiano could now remain at the Spanish outfit beyond the end of the transfer window as Marseille president Jean Claude Dassier concedes the fee is too high.

“The price set by Sevilla is out for us,” he told RTL. “Now we are working on other players.”

It is thought that Sevilla have set an asking price of €18million (£14.7m) for Fabiano, but Marseille were only willing to stump up €13m (£10.6m).

Sevilla claimed first-leg honours against La Liga champions Barcelona as they fought back from a goal down to win 3-1 in the Supercopa.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic put Barcelona ahead, but Luis Fabiano levelled and substitute Frederic Kanoute scored twice to give Sevilla a commanding lead ahead of next week’s Nou Camp clash.

Ibrahimovic gave visitors Barcelona the lead after 20 minutes when he received a pass from Maxwell and shrugged off the attentions of two defenders before firing beyond Andres Palop.

The Swedish striker has been frequently linked with a move away from Barcelona, and speculation persists that he will not be with the club on September 1.

However Barcelona were worthy leaders with him on the pitch tonight, and it was only when he departed, replaced by Lionel Messi, that Sevilla began to play.

Messi was not to blame for Sevilla taking control though. Barcelona’s line-up had been weakened by the absence of their Spanish World Cup stars, who were allowed to rest, and Pep Guardiola included four players from the club’s B team.

It was inevitable they would not be able to play at a high level for the full match, and another striker who could be leaving his current club, Luis Fabiano, hauled Sevilla level in the 61st minute.

The Brazilian, coveted by Marseille, was put in by Luca Cigarini and smashed a low shot past Mino in Barcelona’s goal.

Kanoute came off the bench three minutes later and converted a pass from fellow substitute Alvaro Negredo in the 72nd minute, and then the Malian headed in Sevilla’s third goal in the 82nd minute from a cross by Diego Perotti.

The teams meet again next Saturday evening, at the Nou Camp, when Guardiola is expected to include the stars of Spain’s World Cup triumph in an effort to turn the Supercopa around.

Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido has slammed Marseille’s offer for Luis Fabiano as “ridiculous” and is confident of keeping the striker.

Fabiano has been the subject of transfer speculation all summer, especially following impressive performances during the World Cup.

The 29-year-old is out of contract at Sevilla next summer but has a buy-out clause which would allow him to move for 30million euros and Del Nido insists the Primera Division side will not allow the forward to leave for less than that.

“It’s true that Marseille are interested, it’s true that Sevilla have put a price on him and it’s true that time is running out for Luis Fabiano to leave,” he said.

“Sevilla aren’t going to move a shred from the transfer price and we don’t want Marseille to match the price that we have asked, because what we want is for him to stay many years.

“The offer that Marseille made yesterday was ridiculous, although it seems they are ready to improve that.

“We don’t know how much Marseille are offering the footballer, but he has a year left on his contract, without Sevilla’s okay he can’t leave.

“As time passes the chances that he will leave go. Marseille have to offer what I said to Sevilla, not a euro less, if they don’t offer that quantity it will be very difficult, very difficult, for the player to leave.

“I doubt he will leave, as of today, at this time, everything makes one think his departure won’t happen. But everyone knows what the world of football is like.”

Del Nido also revealed he has an immediate replacement lined up should Luis Fabiano leave, reiterating though that they wish the Brazilian to sign a contract extension which has been on the table for several months.

Luis Fabiano scored 15 goals in 22 top-flight appearances for Sevilla last term, and has averaged close to a goal every other game for the Spanish outfit since joining from Porto in 2005.

Earlier this month, Luis Fabiano dismissed speculation linking him with a move to either Italy or England, with AC Milan and Tottenham interested in his services, claiming his future lies at the Sanchez Pizjuan and that he would pen a new deal at Sevilla.

However, Marseille sporting director Jose Anigo is confident they have persuaded Luis Fabiano to join the Ligue 1 champions.

“Having come back from Spain, I can tell you that the deal is not simple,” he told OMtv. “But what’s important, is that the player really wants to come.

“There’s no problem between Marseille and the player.

“The only point that’s snagging, is the demands of Sevilla, which are a bit high. So we’re waiting for a reponse.”