Arsenal have completed their first signing of the summer with the signing of free agent Willian.
The Brazilian winger left Chelsea after his contract at Stamford Bridge expired, and has put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal in north London.
Despite Willian's age, football.london understands that Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta was keen to sign the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder.
The Spaniard is believed to be a fan of the player's ability and hopes that the 32-year-old can help the club's younger players with his experience.
“I believe he’s a player that can really make a difference for us," Arteta told the official club website.
"We have been monitoring him for the past few months, we had a clear intention to strengthen in the attacking midfielder and the winger positions [and] he is a player that gives us a lot of versatility, he can play in three or four different positions.
"He has the experience of everything in the football world but to still have the ambition to come here and contribute to bring the club where it belongs.
"I have been really impressed with all the talks I have had with him and how much he wanted to come.”
Now that the deal has been confirmed, it is understood that Arsenal will turn their attentions to strengthening the squad in several other areas.
The Gunners are targeting a dynamic central midfielder to stiffen the spine of the side, with Atletico Madrid's Thomas Partey among the club's main targets.
Arsenal have reportedly made several bids with a player swap deal offered, but Atletico are insistent that they will not sell the Ghanaian international unless his buyout clause of £45million is met.
It is understood that Arsenal have also made initial contact over a potential move for Roma's Amadou Diawara, with the Guinea international seen as an alternative to Partey.
Another area Arteta hopes to strengthen is at centre-back, with Malang Sarr a player the Gunners are interested in.
The France Under-21 international, who came through the ranks at Nice, is currently a free agent having come to the end of his contract with his boyhood club this summer.
Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes is another target, with the Gunners reportedly making contact over an £18m move for the 22-year-old last week.
Everton, Manchester United and Italian outfit Napoli have also been closely linked with the Brazilian centre-back.
The north London side also also hope to extend Dani Ceballos' loan from Real Madrid for a further season, after the Spain international forged an impressive partnership with Granit Xhaka in recent months to help Arsenal secure Europa League football.
Arteta has made it clear that he wants Ceballos to stay at the Emirates, but the Gunners have not yet made a breakthrough during talks with Real Madrid over another loan.
The final piece of business that Arsenal's hierarchy will hope to rubber stamp is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's new contract.
football.london understands the Gunners are set to agree a three-year contract worth in excess of £250,000-a-week with their club captain.
Arsenal had long been optimistic that the Gabon international would agree to extend his stay but having an agreement in place early in the brief window between seasons will allow the Gunners to push forward with the ambitious rebuild Arteta wants.
