Johan Djourou has said that Hamburger SV reminds him of Arsenal as they get ready for the new season.

Djourou, 29, is the captain of the Bundelisga side after signing for them from Arsenal in 2014 after a season on loan with the Germans.

Speaking to Kicker, the former Arsenal defender, whose name still  gives some fans the heebie jeebies, said, “I’m going into my fourth season in Hamburg and experiencing actually, an anticipation that I never knew before.

“I believe in this project. HSV has good players, after we have taken a step in the right direction in the last season.

“The coach now has a lot more options, we really have a lot and really close rivalries.

“This is reflected in my view from an even higher level of training.

“I do not want to draw a big comparison but a little, it reminds me of my time at Arsenal.”

Djourou signed for Arsenal in 2003 when he was just 16 and big things were expected of him.

Despite occasionally looking good, he could never get any sort of consistency and, ultimately, his inability to pay attention for 90 minutes once or twice a week cost him his place at the club.

Sent on loan, first to Birmingham and then Hannover, he moved to Hamburg in 2013 before they paid £2.38m for him when they activated their option to purchase in the loan agreement.

He made 32 Bundelisga appearances last season, assisting one, while picking up three yellows and one red.