Julio Pleguezuelo wants Arsenal stay despite offers from Spain

Arsenal defender Julio Pleguezuelo has revealed that he has received offers to return to Spain, although his preference is to remain at the Emirates Stadium.

Pleguezuelo left Barcelona to sign for Arsenal in 2013 when he was just 16 years of age, but the Spaniard only recently made his debut for the Gunners in the EFL Cup tie with Blackpool.

Periods out on loan at Mallorca and Gimnastic in Spain's second tier have boosted Pleguezuelo's reputation back in his homeland, but the defensive-minded player has suggested that he would prefer to stay in North London.

The 21-year-old told Marca: "I am waiting to see how everything develops. My goal is to stay at Arsenal.

"I would like to continue and, if it is not here in England - I have offers in Spain. I have to talk to my representative, but at the moment it's not my idea to go back."

Pleguezuelo - whose contract expires in the summer - could potentially be given another chance to impress during Arsenal's remaining fixtures in the group stages of the Europa League.