New signing Kyle Bartley wants regular Swansea first-team spot

New Swansea City defender Kyle Bartley is relishing the chance of regular Premier League football after leaving Arsenal.

Bartley, who played once for Arsenal, spent last season on loan at Glasgow Rangers, making 19 appearances after struggling with a hernia injury.

Now he hopes to be given a chance by manager Michael Laudrup.

"It is the type of football I enjoy to play and I think I will get a chance to play here," said the 21-year-old.

"It [the move to Swansea] is fantastic. It came about late on last week and it was a bit of a surprise to me.

"Once I heard Swansea wanted me it was so difficult a chance to leave Arsenal, but it was one that I felt I had to make.

"The massive attraction was the style of football we play and the manager coming in and his philosophy.

"The last two-and-a-half years I have been out on loan playing week in, week out, being involved in first team games.

"That's what I want to do as a 21-year-old, I just want to play games and at Swansea I should have a good chance of doing that."

Bartley was at Loftus Road to witness the Swans' 5-0 hammering of QPR on the league's opening weekend.

"It was a pleasure to be there and watch," he admitted.

The centre-back had signed a new contract with Arsenal last summer and had taken part in pre-season training with the team ahead of the 2012-13 campaign.

He began his career with Bolton Wanderers before joining Arsenal in July 2007.

An FA Cup Youth winner with the Gunners in 2009, Bartley made his Gunner first team debut the same year in a Champions League tie against Olympiakos.

The Stockport-born player spent two separate loan spells with Sheffield United during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.

The former England youth international had a three-month loan spell at Glasgow Rangers in 2011 and also spent last season on loan at Ibrox.

Bartley is Laudrup's latest recruit having already signed defender Chico Flores, midfielder Michu and Preston striker Jamie Proctor on a two-year deal, with midfielder Jonathan de Guzman and striker Italy Shechter joining on loan.