Adios Carlos

Arsenal`s Mexican striker Carlos Vela has joined Real Sociedad the Spanish side have confirmed. On Tuesday evening, a statement on the Arsenal website on Tuesday evening confirmed talks were at an advanced stage, but La Liga side called a press conference to rubber stamp the deal on Thursday

For those not au fait with Spanish / who can`t be arsed to go to Google translate, the statement read, "Carlos Vela will be presented this morning at the Anoeta press as a new player of Real Sociedad. The press conference is scheduled on the 12:15 hours."

Negotiations have rumbled on for most of the summer, with Vela having impressed at Sociedad during a loan spell last season. But a sticking point appeared to be the sell on clause desired by Arsenal- a common theme in deals involving younger players the club sells on. Reports suggest the fee is around £4m with the Gunners netting up to 50% of any sell on fee and with a buy back clause in his Sociedad contract.

The Cancun born striker was snapped up by the Gunners as a 16 year old from Guadalajara in 2005, but spent two and a half years years on loan in Spain- at Celta Vigo, Salamanca and Osasuna respectively- due to work permit restrictions. He returned to Arsenal in 2008 and wowed the supporters with some fulimating displays in the Carling Cup- most memorably with a memorable hat trick against Sheffield United and an audacious chip versus Wigan. However, Vela, famed for scoring chipped goals of little consequence, struggled to make an impact in the first team when it really mattered.

He was loaned to West Bromwich Albion in January 2011 despite indicating a preference for a loan move to Spain. Arsenal insisted he must prove himself in the English top flight.

His time with the Baggies proved fruitless and the club sanctioned a loan deal with Real Sociedad last August with a view to a permanent deal, Arsene Wenger seemingly having accepted that Vela couldn`t adapt to the Premier League. Vela was an ultimately talented player that didn`t have the ingredients (or the desire if you want my personal opinion) to make the most of his abilities. Essentially, a Mexican Quincy Owusu Abeyie.

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