New leader Stephan Lichtsteiner reveals Arsenal project

New Arsenal signing Stephan Lichtsteiner has spoken about the leadership he will bring to the club, as well as ambitions for the season ahead.

Lichtsteiner’s arrival at the Emirates was confirmed this afternoon, with the Swiss captain joining from Juventus on a free transfer. Many Arsenal supporters are optimistic about the winning mindset he can bring to the team, having won seven straight Serie A titles.

“I hope I can bring a lot of that mentality,” he told www.arsenal.com. “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.”

Lichtsteiner, 34, then described what kind of leader he is in the dressing room and on the pitch.

“At the end it’s not too important to speak too much.

“The important thing is what you do on the pitch, that you are an example for the young players, for the old players, that everybody knows that this guy will help us. Like me also, I need to know that everybody helps me.

“This is the team spirit that we need to have, to have the confidence to give each other to help us.”

Arsenal will be hoping Lichtsteiner – the first signing under new head coach Unai Emery – can help them return to the Premier League top four.

“There is a project,” said Lichtsteiner. “There is a project to come back into the Champions League. I think it’s hard to see a club like Arsenal not playing in the Champions League. If you see the players, if you see the club, the stadium… it’s the project, the big opportunity to get back to the highest level.”

Lichsteiner will wear the number 12 shirt for the Gunners.