New Arsenal signing Mesut Ozil has expressed his excitement ahead of beginning his career at the Emirates Stadium.

The German international joined the Gunners on transfer deadline day for a club-record fee of £42.5m from Real Madrid, and signed a five-year contract with the North London outfit.

Ozil revealed that playing in the same side as a number of his compatriots was one of several factors that helped him decide to join Arsenal.

"I'm looking forward to being on the same team as Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker," Ozil told DFB TV. "I'm looking forward to the new challenge there.

"I've already heard that they have super fans, the city is great and the team is fantastic and I'm really looking forward to that."

Ozil will wear the number 11 shirt at the club.