Arsenal secure Monreal signature

1 February 2013 01:21

Arsenal have completed the signing of Malaga left-back Nacho Monreal, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.

Monreal passed a medical at the club's London Colney training base on Thursday after jetting into the capital and has agreed to sign a four-and-a-half year contract after an eight-million-pound transfer fee was agreed between the clubs.

Arsenal had centred their deadline-day sights firmly on Spain as manager Arsene Wenger made a late bid to shore up his leaky defence and add greater firepower to his attack.

However, the Gunners failed in their last-ditch pursuits for two other Spain-based players – Barcelona striker David Villa and Athletic Bilbao centre-back Fernando Amorebieta.

That means Monreal, who has won nine caps for Spain, is Arsenal's only signing of the January window.

He will provide competition for Kieran Gibbs, who suffered a thigh injury against Liverpool on Wednesday.