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Arsenal move sparks interest from Spain striker Villa

16/04/2008

Striker David Villa has said he would relish a move to the Premier League this summer, citing Arsenal's Emirates Stadium as his favoured destination.

The Valencia star, who is a regular in the Spain squad, has suggested he may be allowed to follow international strike partner Fernando Torres to England in the close season.

Torres joined Liverpool from Atletico Madrid for a Reds club-record fee of £26 million and has been an instant hit - scoring 30 times so far this season, including 12 goals in as many games recently.

But rather than favouring a move to join Torres and Spanish-speaking manager Rafael Benitez on Merseyside, Villa has said north London would be his first choice if he is given the go-ahead to leave by Valencia president Agustin Morera.

"I watch the Premier League a lot and the team I'm most attracted to is definitely Arsenal," he told the Sun newspaper.

"Their brilliant one- and two-touch football and the whole style of rapid counter-attack which dominates the top level of the Premier League now is the one which suits my game best of all.

"I think I'm made to succeed in England but, of course, it's one thing saying it and quite another getting there and then doing it.

"The Valencia president always told me he wouldn't sell me until summer 2008. If an offer comes in, I'm hungry to test myself in England."