PLAYER PROFILE

Alex Hleb

Position: Midfield

Height: 5'10

Weight: 10st 12lbs

Date of Birth: 1981-05-01 Minsk, Belarus

Alex Hleb

Arsenal completed the signing of Belarus international midfielder Alexander Hleb in July 2005 after succeeding with an appeal for a work permit.

The 24-year-old wideman joined the Gunners from German side VfB Stuttgart in a deal that could eventually mount up to £10million.

A club statement read: "We can confirm we have been successful in an appeal for new Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb's work permit."

Hleb had spent five years with Stuttgart before opting to move to England and has won 18 caps for his country to date.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is delighted with his new signing, adding: "He's a player I've admired for some time now.

"Hleb has proved his ability with his performances in the Bundesliga in recent seasons and he definitely has the potential to do very well with Arsenal."

The player himself added: "I am very happy to have this fantastic opportunity to join Arsenal. They are a club with a great history and many world-class players."

During his first season for the Gunners, he made 39 appearances, scoring three goals along the way, including one in a 7-0 thrashing of Middlesbrough. He was just as good in the following campaign as he once more scored three goals, thsi time in forty appearances. He is one of Arsenal's most important midfielders.