The stylish Swiss centre back is joining The Gunners, despite also attracting rival interest from Manchester United, Liverpool and a host of top clubs, and Arsene Wenger has pulled off a massive coup in winning the chase for the Servette stopper.
Real official Ramon Martinez is believed to have made a last-gasp bid to block the youngster's proposed switch to Highbury.
"Of course I would have preferred him to join Real," stressed Julian Senderos, who is Spanish, and was hoping Philippe would head for La Liga.
"It is not easy to say 'no' to Real.
"I strove to do it with tact.
"I have been honoured to deal with such prestigious clubs.
"In England, the sporting guarantees were more important. Arsenal more again than at Manchester, where the defensive area is already very well furnished.
"The financial offers proposed were worthy themselves - it would have been necessary to be able to give a small piece of him to each of the clubs."
Senderos, who was invited to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United's win over Newcastle, officially becomes a Gunner on July 1 next year, and Wenger's gain is surely Vicente Del Bosque's loss.
(Photo courtesy of Servette's official website).
