Arsenal finally announced their marquee signing for the season, with Santi Cazorla saying he cannot wait to get started with the Gunners.
The Spanish international, who flew with the rest of the Arsenal squad to Germany on Monday, completed his medical at Arsenal last week, but the official announcement was held up by the turmoil at his former club Malaga. As Arsenal do not generally announce the signing of a player before every possible hurdle has been cleared, it took until Tuesday for the Gunners to confirm the 27-year-old's signature on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £16 million ($25 million), which would make him the club's most expensive signing ever.
"Santi Cazorla is a great signing for us," Arsene Wenger told the club's official website. "He is a player with good experience at both club and international level, who will add significant quality to our squad.
"He is a versatile, attacking midfield player who can play comfortably on either side of the pitch or centrally. He has good pace, is technically gifted and will be a huge asset to Arsenal Football Club.
"We are delighted that he is joining us."
Cazorla is expected to be used by Arsenal centrally, and is seen as the perfect replacement for former captain Cesc Fabregas, who left the club to join his hometown club Barcelona last year. Cazorla is also a deadball specialist, and is expected to provide the much-needed goals that the Gunners sorely missed last campaign from midfield.
"I'm so happy to be joining Arsenal," Cazorla said. This is a club with great players, a fantastic stadium and huge support.
"The club has one of the best managers in football and their style of play is recognised and admired all over the world.
"I'm so excited to be joining one of the greatest teams in Europe and also in the Premier League. I will do my best to help Arsenal challenge for trophies and make all the supporters happy."
Cazorla revealed he had taken advice from Fabregas and Robert Pires before joining the Gunners.
"I have spoken to Robert Pires because he played with me at Villarreal," Cazorla told Arsenal Player. "Obviously he knew about the rumors of me coming here and always encouraged me to sign.
"He told me it was a very good club and I was going to enjoy London, the city and the move.
"The same with Cesc Fabregas. He said this was a big club and that I was going to be very happy here, he said I would adapt easily. And I can feel that."
Arsenal are now expected to complete the signing of Turkish international midfielder Nuri Sahin from Real Madrid. Sahin, a deep lying playmaker, will be seen as a substitute to Jack Wilshere, who is not expected to come back into the first team till October at least.
While the future of Robin Van Persie still remains unclear, the Gunners go into the new season on a positive vein, for the first time in many years, with several quarters suggesting the prolific Dutchman might yet extend his stay in at the Emirates.
