Nasri on his way to Arsenal for £12m: But don't call him the next Zidane

Nasri, 21 on Thursday, has signed a four-year deal and becomes Arsene Wenger's second acquisition of the summer following the £5m arrival of Cardiff City teenager Aaron Ramsey.

Italy's Gennaro Gattuso, left, and France's Samir Nasri, right, vie for the ball during the Euro 2008 clash

The deal was announced yesterday on Nasri's personal website and he underwent a medical in London last week. Although Arsenal have not yet officially confirmed his transfer, Nasri says the deal has been rubber-stamped.

Arsenal are likely to recoup their outlay with the sale of Alexander Hleb to Barcelona. Nasri is a ready-made replacement for Hleb, also being able to play on the left of midfield or through the centre.

There was little opportunity for Arsenal fans, however, to see their latest signing in action during France's ill-fated Euro 2008 campaign, with coach Raymond Domenech only bringing him on from the bench in the games against Romania and Italy.

As well as sorting out Hleb's future, Wenger must decide whether to give in to the sustained pressure from AC Milan and Barcelona in their pursuit of Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

Barca remain confident of landing the player and are prepared to go as high as £24m.

But Milan vicepresident Adriano Galliani repeated yesterday: 'We only have one target and that is Adebayor.'

It is little wonder that Nasri has been compared to former legend Zidane, being a France international of Algerian descent who hails from Marseille.

He is comfortable on the ball and can play as a support striker as well as across midfield. The player himself does not like the comparison, however.

He said: 'I don't think it is fair to put that sort of pressure on a young player.

'There's only one Zidane, just as there was only one Platini. I'm me, a novice, who is just trying to get better.'

He also had a difficult farewell season in the French League. Beset by viral problems and injury, his stock fell during a stop-start campaign that nevertheless ended on a personal and professional high as Marseille qualified for the Champions League.

The club's manager, Eric Gerets, insisted that Nasri will give Wenger options, saying: 'He feels he is better playing a little further down the field but I'm convinced he can play close to a centre forward.

'He is especially lethal around the box when he is not marked too closely. When he has a minimum of space, that's when he is dangerous.'

In 12 appearances for France he has scored two goals.