Arsenal signs Santos and Mertesacker

Arsenal has strengthened its defense with the signing of Andre Santos from Turkish champion Fenerbahce and Per Mertesacker from Werder Bremen.

Brazil left back Santos joined for £7 million ($10 million), Fenerbahce said on the final day of the summer transfer window.

''Santos is a quality player, with the ability to both defend well and get forward and help with attacks,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. ''He has experience in the Champions League and for Brazil and has proven he can deliver at the highest level.''

The 28-year-old Santos is joining a team that has collected just one point from its first three league matches, including an 8-2 rout by Manchester United on Sunday.

''It was one of my dreams to play for a major European football club and I have accomplished this,'' Santos said after signing an undisclosed long-term contract. ''I am very happy to be part of this team. All the Brazilians who came to this club spoke wonders about it and I am delighted to be part of the Arsenal family.''

Mertesacker, a 26-year-old Germany center back, is also heading to Arsenal after a deal was reached with Werder Bremen.

Mertesacker is relishing the challenge of the Premier League.

He said on Bremen's website: "I had a great time at Werder, and I owe a lot to the club.

"The move to London is a wish come true, to take another step in my career.

"The English Premier League has for me always represented an interesting challenge.''