Santi Cazorla has completed his medical and signed a four-year deal after completing his move from Malaga.
While there is still uncertainty on the exact amount, it is believed to be between £16-18 million ($25 million, $28 million), well below the market value for a player of Cazorla's caliber and experience. While the official announcement has not been made on the club's website yet, the Spanish international underwent a medical and is expected to join his new teammates for Arsenal's trip to Germany next week.
The Gunners will now push for the loan signing of Nuri Sahin, as a back-up for Jack Wilshere, who is not expected to play until October. Sahin is likely to move to the Emirates sometime next week, further bolstering the Gunners' ranks.
The question now on everyone's mind is -- what about Robin Van Persie? The Dutch captain stated his intent not to sign a new contract with the Gunners, forcing the club's hand. The statement, for the most part, lambasted the lack of ambition shown by Arsenal.
However, with the Gunners expected to complete the signing of Cazorla soon, that will make him the third proven international player to join the Emirates this summer. Lukas Podolski, the German international with over 100 caps for his country, and Olivier Giroud, the man who helped his previous club Montpellier to the French League title, have already signed. Add 23-year-old Sahin, an exciting young talent, Arsenal have just stepped from a nearly-there team to genuine title contenders.
It is understood, Robin Van Persie looked a much happier person while training on Wednesday and Thursday. The Arsenal captain, yes he is still the club's skipper, was visibly in a better mood, as he trained with the Arsenal first team, with the likes of new signings Podolski and Giroud.
So, is the striker, who netted a staggering 37 goals for the Gunners last season, considering the possibility of staying? Of course, Van Persie will say, he never said he wanted to move to another club, that was not the purpose of the statement. But anybody who read the statement will know otherwise.
There is a lucrative deal, admittedly not as rich as the ones reportedly put out by Juventus and Manchester City, but a very rich and expensive deal nonetheless, on the table for Van Persie. All he needs is to say, all right, I jumped the gun a bit, I believe in the club, and sign on the dotted line.
The possibility of playing alongside the creative talents of the likes of Podolski, Giroud, Cazorla, Sahin, Wilshere, Gervinho, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta, Song and more, might just tempt the striker to consider his options.
Arsene Wenger has repeatedly said Van Persie, despite the statement, is not for sale. Even though you can never take anything Wenger says at face value, the Frenchman genuinely seemed determined to stay true to his word, emphasized by the signings he has made since.
Arsenal fans, for the first time in a long time, have plenty to shout about in the summer. A transfer window like this has not been seen by the Gunners faithful for a long time, while some might even think, Van Persie is now dispensable.
Wenger is believed to be keen on taking the Dutchman to their week-long pre-season trip to Germany, where the Gunners will play Podolski's former team, FC Koln in their final friendly, before the English Premier League season opener against Sunderland on August 18. What cannot be denied is, keeping Van Persie, despite the signings, will make Arsenal into an even stronger force
But for once, after a long time, Arsenal are firmly in control, with the ball now in Van Persie's court.
