Arsenal: Key quotes from Stephan Lichtsteiner announcement reveal all

Stephan Lichtsteiner is an Arsenal player. The official announcement came on Tuesday afternoon, with some key quotes revealing everything of the motivation for the signing.

Arsenal have officially made their first signing of the post-Arsene-Wenger era. Former Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner has joined the club on a free-agent transfer and will convene with the squad after Switzerland’s summer World Cup campaign.

Catch the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast right here

It is not perhaps the most exciting of signings, a 34-year-old who cost nothing and was allowed to leave by his former club. But that does not mean that Lichtsteiner is useless. He brings some key traits that will be invaluable during his time in north London.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Unai Emery, when asked about Lichtseiner’s qualities, was keen to highlight the off-pitch advantages that he will bring:

"“Stephan brings huge experience and leadership to our squad. He’s a player with great quality with a very positive and determined attitude. Stephan will improve us on and off the pitch.”"

Lichtsteiner, in another interview, echoed that sentiment, highlighting that he has been through a similar project that Emery is now heading up at Arsenal:

"“There is a project. There is a project to come back into the Champions League <…> 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.”"

There are other interesting quotes from Lichtsteiner in his introductory interview, but I believe that the above paragraph, alongside what Emery has said, reveals all as to the motivations of the signing, the role that will be played, and the collective project that is about to be undertaken.

First and foremost, it is clear to see that Emery has sold Lichtsteiner on a project that focuses primarily on getting back into the Champions League. That, for the time being, is the major priority of this club. I do not believe that they have any aspirations of winning the title in the next two years and are accepting that progress will be slow and that Champions League qualification is the first step of that progress.

But more importantly, Lichtsteiner has clearly been targeted because of the experience that he has had with Juventus, winning seven straight Serie A titles under two different managers, getting them back into the Champions League and then to two Champions League finals, and being a leading character in a dressing room bursting with personality and talent.

Next: Arsenal: Player ratings from 2017/18 season

Some may be a little underwhelmed by the signing because of age and the fact that the on-pitch impact will be somewhat minimal, but that is not why Arsenal have signed Lichtsteiner. They have signed him for his experience for the project ahead. These quotes really do reveal all.