Arsene Wenger has revealed how he managed to convince Mesut Ozil to pick Arsenal over Paris Saint-Germain back in 2013.
The playmaker of Turkish origin who was playing for Real Madrid at the time was being targetted by the Gunners and the French giants.
Wenger stated he was looking to make a marquee signing with the backing of Dick Law and Ivan Gazidis.
The North London based outfit ended up winning the race Ozil, signing him for a then record club fee of £42.5 million.
The Frenchman explained why it was time for Arsenal to start spending more on transfers.
See More: 3 reasons £30m Arsenal Target Caglar Soyuncu Would Be A Success At The Emirates
Speaking to the club’s official website, Wenger stated: “It was a big signing.
“It was a period where we came a little bit out of our financial restrictions.
“He’s a player who I admired always, who I was in touch with when he went to Real Madrid. Finally we could do it, it was a change of financial potential at the club 2014-15, we had a bit more resources.
“There were big complications because it has to be done quickly.
“I think I was on the phone at 2 o’clock in the morning and it was not done, at 6 o’clock in the morning it was done.
“Dick Law and Ivan Gazidis were hard-working on the case. I was on the phone because we played Tottenham the next day, in the morning when I woke up it was done.
“I remember just before I left to the stadium I had a call from the president of Paris Saint-Germain asking me: ‘Have you done the deal or not? Because we want to do it. And I said: ‘Please don’t touch, it’s finished.'”
Ozil went onto win three FA Cup trophies under the stewardship of Wenger and has established himself as one of the most effective players in terms creating chances and providing assists.
The 29-year-old signed a new contract deal with the Gunners in January which made him the highest paid player at the club and will keep him at the Emirates until 2021.
