Per Mertesacker: 'Arsenal should be proud of signing Mesut Ozil'

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker believes that the arrival of midfielder Mesut Ozil to the Emirates is a "gift".

The 24-year-old, who plays alongside Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski for Germany, joined the Gunners for a club-record £42.5m fee from Real Madrid on deadline day.

"I think Arsenal can be proud that a player like Mesut has chosen the club," Mertesacker told DFB.de. "Arsene Wenger spoke briefly to me about Mesut but he did not really need my opinion. He has followed Mesut's career for a long time and always been an admirer of his. For us, the transfer is a gift."

Ozil has claimed that joining Arsenal was the "perfect" move for him.