Mapou ­Yanga-Mbiwa rejected Arsenal to sign for Newcastle United last week, it has been revealed.

The Daily Star Sunday says Yanga-Mbiwa confirmed that ­Newcastle are now established as the Premier League's "French" club.

That used to apply to Arsenal, through their French boss Arsene Wenger and the signings he made from his homeland.

But even though Wenger was interested in Yanga-Mbiwa he became one of five French signings for the Toon in the transfer window.

Yet just 24 hours before the deal went through, sources in France were convinced his destination would be Arsenal.

Wenger saw the versatile Yanga-Mbiwa as a right-back.

However, Toon boss Alan Pardew has signed him primarily as a central defender.