Arsenal have finally completed the signing of midfielder Samir Nasri from Marseille after securing the French international on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee. The 21-year-old will join up with the Arsenal squad on their pre-season tour of Austria on July 21.
"I am very happy to become an Arsenal player, it means such a lot to me," said Nasri. "This is a very important step in my life as a football player because Arsenal is a massive club. I really hope everything will go well for me here. I will do my best for Arsenal and its fans, and I am honoured to be part of such a great football club."
Nasri also added that it was Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger's track record for developing young talent that persuaded him to join the club. "The fact that Arsène gives great opportunities to young players is very important for me," he said. "Arsène has a great reputation and he is one of the best managers in the world. He has proved that he puts a lot of confidence in the young players and he gives them a chance. It was very important for me to have such a great manager to work with."
The midfielder said former Arsenal players Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira had helped convince him that moving to the Emirates was the correct decision. "They both had amazing times at this club and even talking to them now, they are still very enthusiastic about Arsenal," he said. "They both told me that it was the best choice for me to come to Arsenal.
"I like offensive, technical and quick football, exactly in the style of Arsenal. Last season, unfortunately, the team just missed out on winning a trophy, but with regards to football, in my opinion Arsenal produced the best football in Europe. I was a big fan of the team and of its football philosophy," said Nasri, who can play on the right, left and behind the strikers.
Wenger believes Nasri - who made two appearances for France at Euro 2008 and prematurely announced last month that a deal had been completed - will make a "quality" addition to the Arsenal squad, for a fee reported in the region of £12m.
"We are delighted to be signing Samir," Wenger said. "He is young, quick and technically an outstanding player. He has shown great potential with his performances for Marseille and the French national team over the past two seasons, and he will add great quality to our squad."
Arsenal's season starts on August 12/13 with a Champions League qualifier, and Wenger will hope to have settled his squad by then. Nasri is the Gunners' second major signing of the summer following the capture of Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff, but Emmanuel Adebayor, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto have been linked with moves abroad.
