Mesut Özil claims he would have joined the Gunners for free

The Gunners record signing Mesut Özil has claimed that he "would have even joined Arsenal for free" after completing his switch to the North London club on transfer deadline day.

The 24-year-old German midfielder, who joined Arsenal from La Liga giants Real Madrid, revealed that the Gunners manager Arsene Wenger was the main factor for his decision to switch clubs. 

He told German newspaper Die Welt : "In some way, that conversation flicked a switch in me and made me realise what I had lost at Madrid - transparency, trust, respect,"

"Arsene told me exactly how he saw me, how he wanted to use me, what he expected of me. I would have even joined Arsenal for free."