DREAMS COME TRUE
Arsenal star Henrikh Mkhitaryan ‘overjoyed to to sign for the club I supported as a boy’
The Armenian said: 'It’s a dream come true because I’ve always dreamed of playing for Arsenal'
HENRIKH MKHITARYAN has revealed he supported Arsenal growing up.
The Gunners signed the former Manchester United man in a blockbuster swap deal for Alexis Sanchez.
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Mkhitaryan, 29, wrote on social media: "Overjoyed and honoured to sign for the club I supported as a boy."
Speaking to the club website, the Armenian said he had "always dreamed" of playing for the club.
"I’m very happy that we could finish this deal and I’m very happy to be here," he said.
"It’s a dream come true because I’ve always dreamed of playing for Arsenal.
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"Now that I’m here, I’ll do my best for this club to create history.
"I always loved the way that Arsenal played and the way that Arsene Wenger has managed the team.
"There have been a lot of young players, he’s managed them and they’ve done very well.
"Of course I was in love with the game of Thierry Henry.
"I loved the way he played - and maybe that was the reason to support Arsenal."
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Arsene Wenger said he was delighted to be getting a world class player.
"We’re replacing a very good player with a very good player, a world-class player with a world-class player," Wenger said.
"Mkhitaryan can play on the wing or in midfield, so I believe he can play very well in many positions.
"That can help us as well because he can play together with Ozil as well as playmaker, so overall it’s a good move.
"He's a very complete player. He creates chances, he defends well, he can absorb distances and he’s very committed as well.
"I must say he’s a player who has all the attributes. Maybe where he’s a bit short is on goalscoring but he has improved that.
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"If you look at the number of goals he’s scored in his career, it’s quite impressive overall.
"I’m very excited to get a player in who will be committed and focused. It is vital as well to have players who have experience, because we have a very good bunch of young players but we know that it’s not sufficient in the Premier League today to put them all in together.
"You also need a good weight of experience in your team and he will contribute to that."