Arsenal manager Unai Emery blocked the exit of wantaway Gunners midfielder Aaron Ramsey before the end of the winter transfer market according to reports from the Italian media.
Italian media outlet Tutto Mercato Web claim that Unai Emery pulled out of a swap deal involving Aaron Ramsey and Juventus defender Mehdi Benatia having initially shown interest in it.
Welsh international Aaron Ramsey is expected to join Italian Serie A champions Juventus at the end of his Arsenal deal in the summer having already agreed on a free transfer move with the Old Lady but the Italians wanted to sign him six months earlier only to meet a brick wall in Unai Emery and Arsenal.
Juventus proposed a swap deal involving Aaron Ramsey and Mehdi Benatia with both players moving in the opposite direction.
Arsenal were initially open to idea of the swap deal before pulling out of it altogether.
Unai Emery made the decision following the return of defender Laurent Koscielny to full fitness.
The Arsenal captain has bounced back well from a long-term Achilles injury and has played nine of the last eleven games in all competitions for the Gunners.
Morroccan international centre back Mehdi Benatia has since sealed a transfer to Al Duhail FC of Qatar.