Arsenal failed to sign Hamza Mendyl due to work permit problems and have now missed out on his services, Goal reports.

What's the word?

Unai Emery was extremely active in the summer transfer window upon his arrival at the Emirates Stadium, signing five new players and placing a focus on rejuvenating his side's defensive ranks with the additions of Stephan Lichtstiner, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

The Gunners also landed combative midfielder Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria but neglected to sign a new left-back, an area that has already proven to be an issue this season, but Goal reports it was not down to a lack of trying.

Arsenal were said to be keen on the services of Monaco youngster Hamza Mendyl but failed to complete a deal due to work permit regulations, which allowed Bundesliga runners-up Schalke to jump to the front of the queue and seal a deal.

What was said?

The Morocco international sealed a move to Schalke last week but the German club's sporting director Christian Heidel made it pretty clear a deal would not have been done if Arsenal managed to complete the correct paperwork. When asked about work permits, he said:

"I think otherwise he would have gone to Arsenal."

Will he be missed?

Still just 20-years-old, Mendyl is a talent to watch out for in the coming years and may have been considered to be the long-term starter for Arsenal down the left side, developing as a successor to Nacho Monreal.

While the signing would have been made more for the future, Mendyl would have likely be handed his chance immediately in the first-team picture as Arsenal have suffered with injury problems in the opening weeks of the season.

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Sead Kolasinac is sidelined until later this year and Monreal only made his first-team return at the weekend following a knee injury, which saw Ainsley Maitland-Niles slot into the defence for the opening weekend's defeat to Manchester City.

Maitland-Niles suffered a fracture in his leg during that game and that has reduced Arsenal's options further.