Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Wenger hails Arshavin arrival

04 Feb 2009 - 08:16:05

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that new signing Andrei Arshavin will prove to be a big hit with the Gunners, having finally sealed his transfer from Zenit St Petersburg.

The 27-year-old forward has at last got his wish to try his luck in Western Europe and Wenger is confident that the Euro 2008 star has the qualities to make an instant impact.

He told the club's official website: "Andrei Arshavin is a player I have admired for a long time. He is a versatile player with great experience, who will add real quality to our squad.

"Andrei is an exciting impact player with a huge amount of ability and has been an influential force with both Zenit St Petersburg and the Russia national team in recent seasons."

Arshavin himself was also delighted to have at last got his desired move, adding: "Arsenal are one of the leading football clubs in the world, with a group of fantastic young players and a great manager.

"I am looking forward to making the Arsenal supporters happy and helping this great club win trophies. I am happy to be an Arsenal player, it was my dream.

"I moved because I like the Arsenal style, Arsene Wenger as a coach and I like some of their players.

"Every time I talked to Arsene Wenger, he said: 'I want you to come to Arsenal'. He had confidence in me.

"It was a very hard few days for me, but now it doesn't matter because I am a Gunner. It is great."