Baptista feels the lift from Arsenal's familiar faces

Brazilian arrives a year late but hungry for success

Julio Baptista has arrived at Arsenal insisting he wants to win both a first-team place and a trophy during his first season at the Emirates Stadium. The 24-year-old joined the Gunners from Real Madrid in a transfer deadline day deal that took Jose Antonio Reyes in the opposite direction.

The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, has kept a close watch on the versatile Brazilian, who is able to play either as a striker or in an advanced midfield role.

Arsenal tried to sign him a year ago, when the player opted for Real instead - but after arriving in North London a year later than the club intended, Baptista clearly wants to declare his intentions early.

"It is my hope that I can win a title with Arsenal this season," he said. "Arsenal are one of the best clubs in Europe. I am very happy to be given the opportunity to come here, where I know the manager a little."

Baptista has been named in the Brazil squad to take on Argentina at Arsenal on Sunday and the Brazilian feels he will have no trouble settling into life in England.

"I know nearly all the players here," he said. "I know Gilberto [Silva] the most from the Brazilian national team and I also know Thierry [Henry] and [Cesc] Fabregas. In fact, I could probably name all the players."

Arsenal had a busy final few hours of the transfer window on Thursday, with Ashley Cole and Pascal Cygan departing. William Gallas arrived as part of the deal that took the England left-back Cole to Chelsea and the France defender is looking forward to a fresh challenge.

"Arsenal have a great history and sense of tradition and, combined with the fantastic facilities, offers me a great move," he said. "It is a chance to build on my career and enjoy what will hopefully be further successes."

Wenger expressed his relief the protracted saga was finally over and claimed the club could now focus on the future without any more distractions. He also paid tribute to Cole, who had come up through the Highbury ranks.

"Ashley is a player who has given a lot for us over a number of years," Wenger said. "He has grown up with Arsenal and, given time, will hopefully appreciate what the club has given him."

The Aston Villa manager, Martin O'Neill, says his side can challenge Chelsea's domination of the Premiership and has urged other teams to do the same.

O'Neill returned to management this summer after a season out of the game - and six years away from the English Premiership - and he has noticed the impact made by the billions of Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich.

"Chelsea, with heavy spending, are trying to put the game beyond people," O'Neill said. "It's not a problem if you try to compete, there's no rule against it and good luck to them, but it stretches teams to the limit. It doesn't mean you just sit forlornly and give up the ghost - you get up and just go and compete."

Despite inheriting a threadbare squad, O'Neill's Villa are third in the League after two wins and a draw.

"We got off to a decent start, and for a moment or two you allow yourself to appear over the parapet but the next thing you know you get a couple of hammerings and you're back to reality," he said.

The new Villa owner, Randy Lerner, the American billionaire who also owns the Cleveland Browns, is set to provide O'Neill with money in January for further signings to follow Stilian Petrov from Celtic.