Sevilla defender Sebastien Squillaci admits he found it "practically impossible" to turn down fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger as he prepares to complete his transfer to Arsenal.
The Spanish side on Monday night confirmed they have accepted an offer from Arsenal for Frenchman Squillaci, who is expected to have a medical on Tuesday with a view to signing for the Gunners ahead of next Tuesday's transfer deadline.
"If a French player receives an offer from Arsene Wenger, it's practically impossible to turn down," he said in the Guardian.
"It was a sensational offer for me and I was happy Sevilla let me go. It was a difficult situation but I knew I had to take this chance.
"I knew if I played against Braga then I would not have been able to play for Arsenal in the Champions League," said the defender, who refused to play for Sevilla against the Portuguese outfit in last week's play-off.
"Arsenal were always the team I watched out for. For any spectator like me, you had to watch a squad with [Thierry] Henry, [Robert] Pires, [Patrick] Vieira and [William] Gallas. Now, I'm happy to have my name in the history books. For me, this is a great new challenge and I've gone there purely to be part of that.
"I don't think my age is a problem. My experience in football is great and players of my age tend to be at the peak of their playing career."
Squillaci, 30, will strengthen an Arsenal rearguard weakened by the departures of William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell and Philippe Senderos if he does put pen to paper and complete a move to Wenger's men.
A statement on the Sevilla website on Monday evening read: "Defender Sebastien Squillaci is travelling to London to have a medical at Arsenal, the club he will be transferred to after an agreement was reached by the two clubs pending the results of the medical."
Source: PA
