LONDON: Santi Cazorla outlined his desire to end Arsenal's trophy draught after becoming  the latest high-profile recruit at the Emirates.

  Cazorla yesterday completed his £15m move from Malaga and immediately set his sights on ending the Gunners’ seven-year run without ­silverware.

“There is a very good squad here and we want to fight for titles and win titles," the 27-year-old Spain international told Daily Star.

“The club have made a big step to sign players, to have a better team and meet the expectations of the fans.

“I’m very happy to be here, Arsenal are a huge club. I hope to win trophies here. That is what I want.”

Cazorla has amassed 45 caps for Spain and was a member of the squads that won the European ­Championships in 2008 and this year.

He was an influential figure in Malaga’s fourth-place finish in La Liga last season when the club qualified for the Champions League for the first time.

Arsenal, who have been ­overreliant on Robin van Persie for goals, will hope he eases the scoring burden on their strikers after he struck nine times in the league last season.

Cazorla talked to former Gunners Robert Pires and Cesc Fabregas over the transfer and was encouraged by what he heard.

“Pires played with me at Villarreal. He always ­encouraged me to sign,” said the midfielder.

“He told me it was a very good club and I was going to enjoy London, the city and the move.


“It was the same with Fabregas. He said this was a big club and that I was going to be very happy here. He said I would adapt easily.”
 

Cazorla, the 2007 Spanish Player of the Year, joined Malaga in 2011 following two stints with Villarreal.

And Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: “Santi has good experience at both international and club level and is a great signing. He has good pace, is ­technically gifted and will be a huge asset to us.”

Arsenal confirmed Cazorla has ­already linked up with his new teammates after being given permission by Malaga to join their pre-season ­training camp in Germany.


His arrival and the previous captures of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud continue the Gunners’ promising summer in the transfer window.

Real Madrid’s Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin, 23, and France youth international M’Baye Niang, 17, of Caen, remain targets for Wenger.

- mD