Former Celtic star Kieran Tierney has revealed his feelings when he first found out about Arsenal's interest.
The left back moved to the Emirates for £25million in the summer and after recovering from injury has started making a name for himself in the Premier League.
And he admits that as soon as he found out about Arsenal and Unai Emery wanting to sign him, he felt the chance to play with and against the best players would help his development.
Tierney named Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Nicholas Pepe and Mesut Ozil as some of the players that encouraged him to make the move.
Speaking in Arsenal's official matchday programme, he said: "When I found out Arsenal were interested in me, it was the summer time and I was recovering from an injury.
"My agent told me 'it's serious, there's serious interest here' and I was thinking that it's such a massive club in a massive league and I'd be playing with and against some of the best players in the world every single day of every single week and the opportunity that gives me to progress as a player.
"I'm still young, only 22 and I'm playing against players in training with the stature of Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe and Mesut - just playing against these players and training with them is going to make me a better player.
"I'm just delighted to be here and delighted to listen and learn and give back to the fans for the support they've given me.
"I'd like to thank them and also the club for having faith in me to sign me."
Tierney also reckons his old Celtic pal Stuart Armstrong deserves more of an opportunity at Southampton.
The midfielder moved last summer but has struggled for a regular start and Tierney added: "Stuart (Armstrong) is a great player, He's able to score a goal from a half-chance and from 20 or 30 yards, as people have seen.
"And I think he deserves a chance to play, I played alongside him at Celtic for years and also at international level with Scotland as well.
"So to see him come down here, I hope he plays and I hope he does well - but not against us right enough - but against everybody else."
