Arsenal's new signing Alexandre Lacazette says Francis Coquelin helped convince him to move to the North London club.
Lacazette, who joined Arsenal from Lyon this week, played with Coquelin in the France team that won the European Under-19 Championship in 2010 and they have kept in touch since then.
"We've had a lot of contact over the last few years and even more over the last few weeks, of course, since it became increasingly likely that I would come to Arsenal," Lacazette told Arsenal's official website.
"He has said only good things about Arsenal, which is not surprising because he wanted me to join the club. Even without that I still really wanted to come here.
"He stressed that it was a great club located in a fantastic city. He said I would not regret my decision to move here because of the people I'd be working with and, of course, the fans."
Lacazette became Arsenal's record signing in a deal that is reported to be worth more than £50 million with add-ons.
The striker is expected to lead the line for Arsene Wenger's side next season, having netted at least 20 Ligue 1 goals in each of the last three campaigns for Lyon.
Coquelin joined Arsenal as a 17-year-old in 2008 from Stade Lavallois and he has no doubt of the quality the former Lyon frontman will bring to the Gunners next season.
"He is a real asset and a goalscoring machine,'' Coquelin said to Arsenal Player. "He scored 37 goals in all competitions last season, so he's shown that he's a very, very good goalscorer.
"He can do pretty much everything because he's someone who likes to get on the ball too. He likes to run in behind the defences that's something he's good at.
"I've never seen someone coming on and scoring so many goals. I've seen him come on and score a hat-trick in 20 minutes.
"He shows that he doesn't joke in front of the goal, he does the business and that's what we need.''
And another of Lacazette's new Arsenal teammates, Mesut Ozil, said he is also looking forward to playing alongside the team's new arrival, despite never having met him.
"He's a very good striker who has scored many goals in Ligue 1, not just this season but in previous seasons, too. We're really happy to have such a class striker here with us," Ozil told Arsenal Player.
"From what I've heard, he's meant to be very good, always hungry for goals and ice cold when he gets into a scoring position. My friends who follow the French league know him well and have told me that I'll definitely have fun with him on the pitch.
"I hope that he'll be able to take us further with his goals. I'm sure he's happy to be here and to be able to play with us, and we're pleased to be able to assist him and help him to score as many goals as possible."