JUST IN: Viviano to join Arsenal on loan after passing medical

Emiliano Viviano has passed a medical at Arsenal and agreed the terms of a season-long loan from Palermo.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper flew into London from Italy on Sunday night and headed straight for the first phase of medical tests at the Gunners’ London Colney training ground.

Goal understands the Italy international has now passed the medical despite a history of knee trouble.

Viviano will join on a season-long loan, which gives Arsenal the option to buy him at the end of the campaign.

It is understood that the north Londoners will pay a substantial loan fee for the keeper, who became available after his club Palermo were relegated to Serie B.

Viviano spent last season on loan at Fiorentina but they have not taken up an option to buy him and he is expected to be registered with Arsenal before Monday night’s 11pm transfer deadline.

Arsene Wenger turned his attention to Viviano after continually revising his list of goalkeeping targets during the summer.

Arsenal had made moves for a string of keepers, including QPR’s Julio Cesar, Valencia’s Vincent Guaita and Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic.