IN: Alexander Hleb, from Stuttgart
Hleb is a 24 year-old Belarussian midfielder. He agreed to join Arsenal on 27th June, but had to wait another couple of weeks before it was finalised when he was allowed a work permit. He is said to have signed a long-term contract, for a fee which could rise to about 15million euros (dependning on appearances, etc).

He became a bit of a sporting star in his home country (not entirely sure how much competition there is), but had to leave it to do so. After 2 years with FC Bate Borisov, in which he scored 10 goals in 40 games and won their league, Alexander moved to Stuttgart in Germany, in the summer of 2000 where his scoring rate has been somewhat slower at 13 in 137 matches.

Already an experienced U21 international, after a couple of years in Germany he found himself scoring on his first senior interntaional start (a 5-2 win over Hungary). That same year (2002) he was voted Belarus Sportsman of the Year. But in 17 subsequent internationals he's yet to add to that goal. He's become a fixture in the Stuttgart side, and played in all of their Champs League matches the season before last.

Unsurprisingly, Hleb is said to be very versatile. His favoured position is central, behind a front striker or striking pair, a "classic playmaker". At Stuttgart he started on the wing because they had Balakov installed in the centre, and he's said to be 2 footed and able to play on either side of the pitch. With Balakov as his mentor, Hleb turned into a tricksy playmaker, a great dribbler with an eye for the killer pass, and eventually he took over from the Bulgarian.

You get the picture? So far he's sounding like Bergkamp without the goals. But he's got the versatility that could see him, under the influence of Wenger, ending up pretty much anywhere on the pitch. What none of the articles I've seen mention in any way is his defensive capabilities, so it seems more likely that he'll be in competition with Cesc than with Gilberto (and one has to ask, given that it was the Brasilian's absence that seemed to make the most difference last season, who will stand in for him if needed this year? Flamini?). Perhaps Alex'll end up competing with Freddie for the position on the right of midfield (although Cesc did ok there when called upon last season, he looks more suited to the central role). That would be fitting because Freddie also arrived as a player who liked to play in the Bergkamp role. But sooner or later we're going to have to find a "Bergkamp type" to actually take over from the maestro. Could it be Alex?

It's worth pointing out that his background in Belarus, Ukraine, and Germany means that we shouldn't need to cater for a Reyes-style dip in form when the weather gets a bit cold during Hleb's first season in England. And the style of play in Germany should mean he doesn't need too long to get into the swing of things.

Hleb has his own website, but the English version doesn't appear to be working yet (the German one does).