Arsenal have managed to bring back midfielder Dani Ceballos on yet another loan spell from Spanish side Real Madrid, the club confirmed earlier this week.
The official statement read: “Dani Ceballos has rejoined us for a second successive season-long loan from Real Madrid.
“The 24-year-old Spain international impressed during his first season in north London, making 37 appearances and becoming an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s team.”
And speaking about rejoining the North London side, Dani Ceballos revealed that manager Mikel Arteta was a key figure in helping him choose his next destination.
“I’m very pleased to be back with Arsenal – I’m very happy to have come back to a club where I feel important,” Ceballos told Arsenal’s official website, via Standard.
“It’s true that I had other options, such as staying at Real Madrid and going back to the Spanish league, where there were teams interested in me.
“I spoke to the coach last year, before the [Emirates FA Cup] final, and told him that I wanted to stay at Arsenal and win titles.
“I’d been really happy with what Mikel had built at the club since he came in. I had a great time at this club last season and there was never any doubt in my mind that I wanted to come back.”
Dani Ceballos struggled to get a foothold in the English Premier League during the first half of the season but ever since the matches resumed after lockdown, the loanee has been an integral part of the Gunners midfield.
Last season he mostly got to feature in central midfield alongside Granit Xhaka but the 24-year-old should get to play in a more advanced role in the midfield trio this time around, if Arsenal can bring in defensive midfielder Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid.