Arsenal sign Ozil at the last moment

LONDON: Arsenal pulled off a headline-grabbing coup on Monday's transfer deadline day, smashing their transfer record by signing German playmaker Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for 42.4 million pounds ($66 million, 50 million euros).

The move came on the day that Gareth Bale was presented as a Madrid player after leaving Arsenal's arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of around 80 million pounds, paving the way for Ozil's exit.

Ozil underwent a medical examination in Munich and Arsenal said he had signed a "long-term contract", with a reported duration of five years. "We are extremely pleased to have signed Mesut Ozil," said long-serving Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who had never previously spent more than 15 million pounds on a player. "We have watched and admired him for some time as he has all the attributes I look for in an Arsenal player." Ozil told the Arsenal website: "I am thrilled to be joining a club of the stature of Arsenal and am looking forward to playing in the Premier League."

Arsenal also announced the signing 27-year-old Italy international goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano from Palermo on a season-long loan. (AFP)