Wenger thrilled with Chamakh acquisition

Arsenal FC have made their first signing of the summer with the recruitment of striker Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer from FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

The 26-year-old, who has penned a "long-term contract" with the north London club, scored 56 league goals in 230 Ligue 1 appearances for Les Marine et Blanc since making his debut in February 2003. Thirteen of those strikes came in 2008/09, when Bordeaux ended Olympique Lyonnais's stranglehold on the French title. The Moroccan international was also a key performer in the UEFA Champions League this season, scoring five goals in nine matches as Laurent Blanc's side reached the quarter-finals.

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said: "He is a player we have admired for some time now and I know he will provide our squad with great quality. Chamakh has proved he is a great player with his performances for Bordeaux and Morocco in recent seasons and we're all looking forward to him joining us."