Stephan Lichtsteiner says the prospect of bringing Arsenal back up like Juventus convinced him to join the Gunners.
Lichtsteiner joined Juve seven years ago in similar circumstances, helping the Bianconeri go from seventh in Serie A to seven-time Scudetto winners, and the right-back faces a similar task at Arsenal after his free transfer to North London.
“It’s a great moment,” the Swiss explained to Arsenal Media.
Stephan Lichtsteiner says the prospect of bringing Arsenal back up like Juventus convinced him to join the Gunners.
Lichtsteiner joined Juve seven years ago in similar circumstances, helping the Bianconeri go from seventh in Serie A to seven-time Scudetto winners, and the right-back faces a similar task at Arsenal after his free transfer to North London.
“It’s a great moment,” the Swiss explained to Arsenal Media.
“It’s great for me after Juventus to come to Arsenal and have this big challenge to make big things [happen] with this big club.
“What attracted me? There is a project. There is a project to come back into the Champions League. I think it’s hard to see a club like Arsenal not playing in the Champions League.
“If you see the players, if you see the club, the stadium… it’s the project, the big opportunity to get back to the highest level.
“I’ve never played against Arsenal, but of course there was the big era of Wenger. He won a lot of titles with Arsenal and [made them] a big team.
“Now it’s a new moment. Wenger went and now everything is a bit new, so it’s a big challenge.
“Emery? He’s a very good Coach who’s won a lot of titles, especially the Europa League that we play in this year.
“He’s a Coach who knows what he wants and a Coach who also progresses the players, and also old players like me.
“You never stop learning and this is very important. I’m really positive that we will do great things.
“My playing style? I’m a right back who likes to attack but I also know when it’s time to attack and when you need to stay behind. I have to put a balance between defence and attack.
“Experience of seven straight Scudetti? I hope I can bring a lot of that mentality. It’s a little bit of the same project that I did seven years ago with Juventus.
“Juventus also, for two times, didn’t qualify for the Champions League. I hope I can bring a lot of experience, a lot of mentality and together, with my team, come back to the highest level of the Champions League.
“At the end it’s not too important to speak too much. The important thing is what you do on the pitch, that you are an example for the young players, for the old players, that everybody knows that this guy will help us.
“Like me also, I need to know that everybody helps me. This is the team spirit that we need to have, to have the confidence to give each other to help us.”
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