Arsenal target Cristian Pavon leaves field IN TEARS after picking up injury during Copa Libertadores

ARSENAL transfer target Cristian Pavon was reduced to tears after getting injured playing for Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores final.

The game was just 24 minutes old when Pavon signalled that he could not continue and sank to the turf.

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When the reality set in that he would not finish the game against great rivals River Plate, the 22-year-old hammered the grass with his hands.

And that frustration soon turned to despair, as the striker cried as he made his way down the touchline.

He was replaced by Dario Benedetto, who would go on to score the second goal in a 2-2 draw between the two South American giants.

He could now be a huge doubt for the second leg against River Plate on November 24.

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Pavon signed his first professional contract with local top-flight club Talleres in 2012, aged just 16.

After impressing with the Cordoba side, the youngster got his big break two years later, moving to Buenos Aires to sign for South American football giants Boca juniors in a £1m deal.

He has a £44.5m release clause in his contract, and is believed to have Arsenal in a list of long-term admirers.

Right-footed and often deployed on the right wing for Boca, Pavon can also play on the left side of the attack, cutting inside onto his stronger foot.

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Following in the footsteps of club’s long line of gifted attackers with a creative flair and crowd-pleasing dribbling skills – such as Juan Roman Riquelme, Carlos Tevez and the one and only Diego Maradona – Pavon has established himself as a fan favourite within the raucous Bombonera in recent seasons.

As he has developed, Pavon has become an increasingly key figure for Boca, helping them to two consecutive titles.

Arsenal and Manchester City are both believed to have the exciting talent on their shortlist.