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London - Harry Redknapp confirmed on Friday that former Arsenal captain William Gallas is due to join the Gunners' north London rivals Tottenham.
Redknapp expects to complete the free transfer signing once the 33-year-old French defender, who agreed a one-year contract with an option to extend the deal, has passed a medical on Friday.
Gallas was left looking for new employers after Arsenal baulked at his high wage demands, reportedly 80,000 pounds a week, and opted to release the former Chelsea star.
But the wage issue has not put off Spurs boss Redknapp, who said: "He's a no-brainer on a free transfer.
"He's never asked for big money here. The chairman's agreed a one-year contract with him and the wages are more than reasonable.
"I don't think his attitude's ever been questioned. The only problem he has, he gets annoyed with people who are not as professional as he is, which is not a bad thing. That can't do any harm.
"If he can bring that to this team as well, that'll be a good bonus for us.
"Whenever we've played against him over the years, I've always thought he was a world-class defender."
Traffic between Arsenal and Spurs has been light over the years, aside from Sol Campbell's acrimonious transfer to join Arsene Wenger's team also on a free transfer in 2001.
But Redknapp had already shrugged off any controversy there could be from Gallas crossing the north London divide.
"He's done nothing wrong. What's he done wrong?" Redknapp said. "He's not the first player to go from Arsenal to Tottenham or Tottenham to Arsenal. It happens all the time.
"He won championships and all sorts at Chelsea. He's a great lad as well, smashing fellow. I've been absolutely really impressed with him.
"He'll improve Tottenham and that's all I'm concerned about. He wants to come here and play and I think that shows the character.
"He could say, 'I played at Arsenal; I daren't go there'. He's got the bottle to want to come and play here."
With Jonathan Woodgate still out with a long-term groin injury and captain Ledley King plagued by knee problems that have the potential to limit his playing time, Redknapp has been keen to bolster his defensive resources.
But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits Redknapp may have to deal with Gallas's occasional outbursts of anger.
Gallas famously let his emotions get the better of him at Birmingham in February 2008 when the Gunners conceded a crucial late equaliser on the same day Eduardo suffered his horrific broken leg.
Wenger also stripped Gallas of the captaincy for publicly questioning the character of the young Arsenal squad.
Yet Wenger is still convinced his former player's bad reputation is undeserved.
"William has an exaggerated bad reputation. I believe that he is a genuine winner," he said.
"He wants things not to be done at 90 percent and is completely focused and motivated to win.
"He can be sometimes, a little bit brutal or impulsive in his reaction but when you are a manager, he is not someone who talks behind your back.
"William is somebody who is straight and is completely focused on the game. You respect that.
"The Spurs move is a surprise, but I can completely understand that. At the moment he looks for a club, he is free, he has chosen the best possible option for him."
