Bargain buy looking priceless for Arsenal

"Last year, that was a big test for me," said Senderos, who was 20 on Valentine's Day.

"Coming here to Arsenal was a dream and it was all very positive. Then came the injuries and that gave me a big test, physically and mentally. I had to stand up to it and show everyone I was capable of coping with things like that. The sky was not always blue and perfect for me. But what I did show was that if there were problems, I could handle them." His attitude made a huge impression on the Highbury management.

He added: "It was something that was in my path. Something that, firstly, I had to prove to myself that I could handle. It gave me confidence to know that even when there are problems, I can be strong and believe in myself and my dreams.

"Both of my parents worked hard to get a good life for themselves. Neither had opportunities to study because they had to work. They always said that it was important I should be humble and to work for things I wanted. What you want from your life does not grow on trees. It is not free."

At their insistence, Senderos worked on his education. He can speak five languages - French, German, Italian, Spanish and English. But he never disguised his love of football and when the chance came to join Arsenal, he readily accepted. "They were my team and I always loved English football," he said. "When the opportunity was there, I took it."

He is a powerhouse and while there may have been sceptics at Highbury who doubted whether he could handle the Premiership, any doubts have been dispelled since he made his breakthrough over the last three months. Among the matches in which he has excelled have been those at Blackburn and Bolton and the home leg of the Champions League knockout tie with Bayern Munich.

Shrinking violets do not tend to survive at Ewood Park or at the Reebok and Senderos was not found wanting.

"It wasn't down to me that we did well in those games," said Senderos. "That was down to the team. We showed we can defend and we can attack. I was pleased with my performance against Bayern because it was my first start in the Champions League but I finished feeling frustrated. We won 1-0 but went out and you feel that the win didn't mean a lot. But we did show that night there wasn't so much between the two teams."

At Middlesbrough last Saturday, he shone again. "He will be a giant, a great player for now and for the future," said Robert Pires after the 1-0 win.

Senderos has even provided Sol Campbell with competition for a central defensive spot. The England man has recovered from an ankle injury picked up on 1 February against Manchester United and has completed 90 minutes for the reserves but, since his return to full training, has been unable to oust Senderos or Kolo Toure from the first-team line-up. And Wenger made it clear that there is now a genuine battle for places in the Arsenal defence.

"Sol can play alongside Senderos but it is good that Senderos is in there and the centre-backs now have a competition. Senderos has emerged as a hard competitor for everyone," said the manager.

Inevitably, the Swiss defender will be compared to Arsenal great Tony Adams. "I am proud of it when I am compared to him," said Senderos.

"I am only 20 and I have a long way to go to get to the level he reached. Tony Adams is a legend and I hope he will stay a legend. I am just 20, doing my work and trying to be as good as I can be."