Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that signing Santi Cazorla this summer was a difficult process.

Cazorla joined the Gunners from Malaga after they experienced a summer of financial turmoil.

Wenger said that he used the situation to his advantage in order to secure the Spanish international's services.

He told the club's official website: "He was interested in joining us last season but in the end we were beaten by Malaga, who had a completely new ambition. But he impressed us, so I kept him in my mind.

"We took advantage of the fact that Malaga were in no-man's land for a while, it was very difficult to find somebody to speak to. In the end we could do it but it was not easy."

Cazorla has quickly become an integral part of Arsenal's midfield, scoring his first goal against Liverpool in his third appearance.