Marouane Chamakh: 10 things you need to know about the Arsenal target

Published 10:21 05/05/10

Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh has all but confirmed the worst kept secret in football, namely that he will join Arsenal in the summer on a free transfer. Now he has also revealed that he turned down Liverpool and Tottenham to sign for the Gunners .

But is he any good? Here is the MirrorFootball lowdown on the man who will be gracing the Emirates next season...

1) Although he was born in Tonneins, France, in 1984, Chamakh is a Moroccan international. He won the hearts and minds of the north African nation when he scored this last-gasp equaliser against neighbouring Algeria in the 2004 African Nations Cup quarter-final tie, which Morocco went on to win 3-1.

2) The striker has scored 27 goals in 53 appearances for Morocco.

3) At Bordeaux since 2002, last season his 13 goals helped the French side clinch the league title. His contract runs out at the end of the season.

4) Although he looks a bit like Cristiano Ronaldo, his goal return is light years away. Last season was the first time he had scored more than 10 goals in a league campaign.

5) Chamakh averages just under a goal every four league games. He has scored 56 times in 224 league games. 6) The 26-year-old is both strong in the air (as the vid below shows, pacy and good at dribbling. His vision and crossing ability means he can also play on the wing.

7) As well as the French title, Chamakh has also won two League Cups (2007, 2009) and the last two Trophees des Champions (the French equivalent of the Community Shield).

8) Last season Chamakh confessed that he was "disgusted with himself" after scoring an own goal in his side's 1-0 defeat to Marseille. At the time it seriously dented the Ligue 1 club's title challenge but they soon recovered and went on to win the league title.

9) Chamakh currently earns €98,000 a month, which is £84,175 in real money or £21,044 a week. No wonder he is itching for a move to cash-rich Premier League.

10) That would explain his apoplexy at Bordeaux not entertaining offers from either Arsenal or Sunderland. "I am angry," he fumed recently. "I am disgusted and I do not understand why they have done that."

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