Official: Gunners land coveted midfielder

Cazorla on the verge of completing massive Arsenal switch

By Zain Alvi | 7th August 2012

Spain winger Santi Cazorla has been been granted special permission to begin training with Arsenal after it was confirmed that an agreement was reached in full regarding the player’s transfer to the Gunners.

Cazorla, 27, has been in London since the end of last week to discuss his move from Malaga and after days of speculation, ESPNSoccernet confirmed that the player will sign with Arsenal later this week in a £15 million deal.

While the length of Cazorla’s contract is not yet confirmed, it is believed that the former Villarreal and Recreativo player will sign a long-term contract with Arsene Wenger’s side.

Malaga only signed Cazorla from Villarreal last summer and despite his consistently impressive performances in propelling the club to a fourth place finish in La Liga last season, they were forced to sell him due to unexpected financial concerns.

Wenger and the Gunners are the beneficiaries, with Cazorla’s transfer fee widely considered to be a bargain in comparison to his suggested market value.

Cazorla, who has been capped 45 times by his nation, is now poised to make his Gunners debut with this Sunday’s pre-season friendly away to FC Cologne.

Also a part of Arsenal’s traveling party in Germany is unsettled skipper Robin van Persie, as well as other summer signings Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.