EXCLUSIVE: 'I want to win a title for Arsenal' says £42.5m Ozil after Wenger smashes club record to bag Real midfielder



Arsenal broke out of their financial straitjacket on Monday night with a club record £42.5million capture of Arsene Wenger’s ‘dream signing’ Mesut Ozil.

In a watershed day at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners contributed to a record-breaking £500million transfer window bonanza to lure the Germany midfielder from Real Madrid. Ozil’s fee eclipses the £17.5m Arsenal paid for Jose Antonio Reyes in January 2004.



Arsenal have also made the 24-year-old their highest-paid player with a five-year deal worth around £140,000 a week.



VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Mesut Ozil completes £42.5m switch to Arsenal



Star saviour: Ozil has joined Arsenal for a club-record £42.5million fee Stint: Ozil has played 158 times for Real in just over three years Dream 48 hours: Arsene Wenger, here celebrating during the win over Spurs, has now signed Mesut Ozil Fanatic: Arsenal fans show their support for Ozil outside their training ground in London Colney

LATEST OZIL ODDS Ozil total league goals 2012-13: Over 7.5 10-11

Under 7.5 10/11 Ozil debut specials: Scores on debut 11/4 Sent off on debut 33/1

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Ozil said: ‘I look forward to my future with Arsenal. In talking with Arsene Wenger, I immediately sensed what had been missing, the wholehearted trust in me. I will pay back the club and the fans in each game. Now I want to help the club to finally win a title.’



His capture means the club have kept their promise of landing a high-profile signing after failed attempts with Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain.



Wenger said: ‘He is a great player, with proven quality at both club and international level. We have watched and admired him for some time as he has all the attributes I look for in an Arsenal player.



‘I have said throughout the summer that we have been working hard to bring in top-quality players. Mesut is a top-quality footballer who will be a fantastic addition to our talented squad. We are all looking forward to him joining up with us after his international matches with Germany.’



Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis added: ‘This is an exciting day for all of us. We have signed a world-class player who is one of Europe’s brightest young talents.’



Arsenal had to fight off competition from Paris Saint-Germain, who sought to gatecrash the move yesterday afternoon until a heart-to-heart with Wenger persuaded Ozil to reject a more lucrative offer from Laurent Blanc’s side.



