Source: Telegraph
Arsenal confirm signing of Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh
The 26 year-old joins on a free transfer at the end of his contract with Bordeaux, and manager Wenger backed him to be "a great addition" to the Arsenal squad. [LNB]Chamakh has made no secret of his ambition to move to the Premier League and said: "This is a dream come true and a great joy to be joining Arsenal. My goal was always to play in the Premier League and Arsenal was the choice of my heart."[LNB] Related ArticlesBarcelona plan 'respectful' Fabregas chaseHill-Wood: Arsenal aim to keep FabregasDrain to Spain leaves us plainArsenal want £45m for FabregasWhatever happened to Arsene Wenger's typical Arsenal?Sport on televisionArsenal were in title contention until the closing weeks of last season, but their bid faltered and Manchester United and eventual league champions Chelsea pulled away. [LNB]Wenger is expected to make several additions to his squad this summer in an effort to keep up with the established leading two teams and step up the challenge for the club's first silverware since 2005. [LNB]Everton's Mikel Arteta and Brazil playmaker Felipe Melo, of Juventus, have been linked, while a shock move for out-of-contract Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has also been touted. [LNB]Any moves may depend on whether captain Cesc Fabregas, recovering from a cracked fibula ahead of the World Cup, stays on. [LNB]Cover at centre-back is also expected, with Neven Subotic, of Borussia Dortmund, Bolton's Gary Cahill and Senegal international Pape Diakhate all reported targets. Veteran Sol Campbell should be offered another year, but William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre will probably leave. [LNB]Chairman Peter Hill-Wood has vowed Arsenal will do all they can to prevent Fabregas joining Barcelona. [LNB]Arsenal maintain that they are not interested in negotiating a fee, even though Fabregas has told them he wants to return to the club where he began his career. [LNB]"The message has been given to them we don't want to lose him and will do our damnedest to keep him," Hill-Wood said."We haven't had an official approach from them and have made it perfectly clear we don't want to lose him. [LNB]"It's a funny way of doing business. I don't know if he will stay. I've really got little to say but we very much hope he stays with us and we're confident he will."[LNB]Marouane Chamakh factfile[LNB]1984: January 10 - Born in Tonneins, France. [LNB]2000: Joins Bordeaux's academy from FC Marmandais at the age of 16. Goes on to play 17 games and score six goals for the club's reserves. [LNB]2003: January 19 - Makes his first-team debut in a Coupe de la Ligue tie against Metz. [LNB]February 8 - Makes Ligue 1 debut against Bastia. [LNB]June 8 - Makes international bow for Morocco in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone. [LNB]2008-09: Scores 14 league goals to help Les Girondins secure the Ligue 1 title and end Lyon's seven-year reign as champions. [LNB]2009-10: Scores 15 goals but Laurent Blanc's side end the season without a trophy. They reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, however, and Chamakh nets in the group games against Juventus and Bayern Munich . [LNB]2010: May 21 - After months of speculation, completes move to Arsenal on a free transfer, signing a long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium. [LNB]
