Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he tracked Mohamed Elneny for an entire year before completing the signing of the midfielder.
The 23-year-old completed his move to the Emirates Stadium from Basel earlier this afternoon and could be in contention to make his Premier League debut against Stoke on Sunday.
With both Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin currently out injured the Egyptian international will provide another dimension to the Gunners' midfield ranks.
Wenger, who is often accused of being reluctant to do business in the January transfer window, is delighted to have completed the deal so early but confirmed it was the culmination of months of work.
"I'm very pleased because I started in December to be ready at the beginning of January because I knew that position was a priority," the French coach told the club's official website.
"We watched him for a year now. We have looked at him in many games.
"We feel that every year he has improved and his age is very interesting.
"I wanted a player who can play purely defensive but ca as well be a box-to-box."
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Wenger is adamant that Elneny will be able to settle into Arsenal's squad quickly as his attitude is similar to several players already at the club.
"We have checked his attitude and he is a very focused and motivated player.
"His attitude tells me he can integrate into a group like ours that demands a lot of dedication from each other."
