Yaya Sanogo has pledged to "toughen up" so he can be a success in English football.
The France youth international joined Arsenal from Auxerre in July and has settled in well, making his debut in the Emirates Cup and coming off the bench against Fulham and Fenerbahce.
Sanogo has been tipped for a bright future but, like every overseas signing, he will need time to adapt. All the same, the 20-year-old is satisfied with his progress so far.
"It gives me confidence [to see Sagna and Diaby], they've taken the same path [from Auxerre], got into the team and they've done really well"
"I've got used to my team-mates really well," Sanogo told Arsenal Player. "I've had time with and spoken to people like Bacary Sagna who's from Auxerre too and this has really helped me to settle in. I've felt really well ever since I got here.
"It gives me confidence [to see Sagna and Abou Diaby], they've taken the same path [from Auxerre], got into the team and they've done really well here so I'd like and hope to emulate what they've done.
"But I will need time, it's a new way of life, a new league and it will take time to adapt. It's something I will manage.
"I think I'll have to toughen up and improve my strength, that's part and parcel of such an intense league as the Premier League, as well as getting used to the step up, which it is from the French league."
Sanogo almost made a dream start to his Arsenal career, forcing a save in the first minute of his debut against Galatasaray in the Emirates Cup. That's as close as the Frenchman has come to a goal but he has picked up some valuable playing time.
"It [my debut] was a great experience," he said. "I didn't think I'd be playing as I'd only got here on the Monday and hadn't really trained with the lads. To be thrown in straight away was really good for me. It would have been good to get off the mark and score straight away.
"Against Fulham it was different, it was the Premier League, a really tough league, physically. But it was good to get a good result and play my part. I got a lot of the ball and so it was a good experience.
"My main aims are to come here and learn, progress in the game and learn my trade with such great players. Now I'm training with them, I'll gradually make progress."
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