Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 'I always dreamed of playing for Arsenal'

Henrikh Mkhitaryan claimed that he had fulfilled a lifelong “dream” to join Arsenal, even after arriving at the Emirates as a direct consequence of Alexis Sánchez’s move to Manchester United.

With Sánchez out of contract in the summer, Arsenal eventually agreed his departure as part of a swap deal for Mkhitaryan, who was allowed to leave United after less than two seasons at the club. The former Borussia Dortmund playmaker was also of interest to Arsène Wenger when he joined United in 2016 but was adamant that his long-term ambition had been Arsenal. “I’ve always dreamed of playing for Arsenal,” said Mkhitaryan.

“I always loved the way that Arsenal played and the way that Arsène Wenger has managed the team.”

His arrival does partially soften the Sánchez blow, even if the Chile striker took aim at former Arsenal players for questioning his commitment and claimed that the club’s record goalscorer Thierry Henry had left for the same reasons as him.

Mkhitaryan has signed a contract until 2021 and Arsenal are also now close to agreement with Jack Wilshere to extend his deal that expires in June. Wilshere has been offered a reduced basic salary but a more performance-structured deal that could potentially be worth more than his current £120,000-a-week wage. Negotiations are also ongoing with MesutÖzil but, having been unable to reach any agreement for the past 18 months, the expectation is that he will now wait until his contract expires this summer before assessing all the options.

Wenger claimed that he had signed “a complete player” in Mkhitaryan. He scored last season for United in the final of the Europa League and, at 29, is the same age as Sánchez.

Mkhitaryan is not eligible for Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final against Chelsea and, with Arsenal out of the FA Cup, will have to wait until the Premier League match against Swansea City next Tuesday for a possible debut.

Arsenal hope by then to have also signed striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund, with chief executive Ivan Gazidis and new recruitment chief Sven Mislintat in Germany on Monday for negotiations.

Dortmund have been angered both by Arsenal’s approach and how Aubameyang has become so unsettled by the situation. An initial £44m offer has been rejected and, while Dortmund want a replacement and would prefer to wait until the summer, Wenger is still hoping that a potential club record deal can be completed in the coming days.

Aubameyang also turns 30 next year and Wenger’s desire to pay so much for a player with little sell-on potential points to the urgency with which he views the final months of the season. Mkhitaryan began his career with the Armenian side FC Pyunik before playing in the Ukraine for Metalurh Donetsk and then Shakhtar Donetsk ahead of his move to Dortmund in 2013.

Wenger is certain that Mkhitaryan can play with Özil and across his attacking positions. “He creates chances, he defends well, he can absorb distances and he’s very committed,” said Wenger. “He’s a player who has all the attributes. We’re replacing a very good player with a very good player, a world-class player with a world-class player.

“I’m very excited to get a player in who will be committed and focused. It is vital as well to have players who have experience, because we have a very good bunch of young players but we know that it’s not sufficient in the Premier League today to put them all in together. You also need a good weight of experience in your team and he will contribute to that.”