Official: Arsenal complete £52m double swoop before transfer deadline day

London, Aug 31: English Premier League giants Arsenal FC have officially completed a £52m double swoop for German defender Shkodran Mustafi and Spanish striker Lucas Perez from Valencia CF and Deportivo La Coruna respectively.

While Mustafi was acquired for a hefty £35m, striker Perez was brought from Deportivo for a bargain price of £17.1m.

After officially signing for the club, the German defender sounded ecstatic. He was quoted: "I'm happy. It took some time but finally I'm here and I'm happy to have made a step forward in my career again, because I think it is a step forward to have joined this club. I hope I'm going to have a great time here.

"Really it was the interest. When a club comes in and shows interest, and it's a club like Arsenal, that makes you feel special.

"When I heard of the interest and I saw people trying to get me here - and the situation wasn't the easiest one - but when you see that people really want to get you here, it gives the feeling that you're really wanted. That's why I'm here right now."

On the new recruitment, manager Arsene Wenger said: "He is at the right age. He has good experience. He is a very focused player who can play with the ball as well. We have taken a great player but have prepared well for the future."

On Lucas Perez's signing, the Gunners boss opined: "I'm happy because I believe he has the qualities to integrate into our team very well," Wenger told Arsenal Player. "He's not only a goalscorer, he's a guy who combines well with partners, who can give a final ball and makes good runs.

"I think people will be a little bit surprised maybe, because nobody knows him very well. He has travelled a bit across Europe.

"He's a late developer in this position because he has always played on the flanks. He's got a good eye for goal and had an outstanding season last year in a team that didn't create too many chances.

"I'm confident. He has pace, good technical levels, is a good finisher and he has the ingredients to be a success. It's always a little bit of a gamble to come from one country to another, with different challenges, but I believe it was a gamble worth taking. I'm excited about that."

27-year-old Lucas Perez is a late bloomer who came to prominance only last season when he scored 17 goals in 37 appearance in the La Liga for Deportivo La Coruna.

Perez's arrival at the Emirates might just solve the club's striker problem which has remained unresolved for long now.

Shkodran Mustafi on the other hand is a popular name in world football. He was a part of Germany's world cup winning squad in 2014 and gained prominence there onwards.

He had impressive last season with La Liga Valencia. His arrival will be a huge boost for Arsenal as they were in search of quality centre-back to partner Laurent Koscielny.

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