Arsenal’s deadline day agenda was dominated by Jack Wilshere’s season-long loan to Bournemouth, but reports today suggest a major incoming was also discussed.
According to The Daily Express (among other newspapers), Arsenal were offered Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge on loan after the player’s representatives contacted the Gunners.
The original source of this story seems to be football news site Goal, who claim Sturridge was offered to Arsenal despite Liverpool’s insistence that he would not be allowed to leave.
Sturridge’s concerns about his role in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team have been very public in nature, and their relationship appears to be fractious.
It would have been a sensational move, but a divisive one also. Some Gooners would have worried that Arsenal could do without another injury-prone English attacker, while other saw Sturridge as the clinical finisher the team has been crying out for.
One move that did go through was Wilshere’s loan to fellow Premier League club Bournemouth, after interest from a host of clubs including Crystal Palace, Roma and AC Milan.
According to BBC Sport’s David Ornstein, Wilshere was keen on a move to Rome, but Arsenal blocked the move due to animosity between the clubs over Arsenal’s approach for Kostas Manolas.
Though the chance to play regular first-team football will give Wilshere a chance to prove his worth, it is hard not to see this as a step backwards.
Despite the fact that his injury problems make him a unique case, not many players drop down an echelon at 24 and make it back to the top.
It appears that Wilshere pushed for the loan move as a reaction to being left out of Sam Allardyce’s first England squad, but it has to be said that Arsenal haven’t stood in his way, which is pleasing to see in the modern age, and all concerned will hope that the young Englishman benefits from a full season.
Bournemouth are well run club who play the type of football that will involve Wilshere in the game, and perhaps something can be read into these stories that claim Eddie Howe is high on the Arsenal board’s shortlist to replace Wenger.
Finally, there was a scare for Arsenal fans last night after Germany defender and new signing Shkodran Mustafi went down injured in a friendly against Finland.
Arsenal’s reputation for suffering an annual injury crisis is the stuff of footballing folklore, so Gooners had every right to fear the worst.
However, Mustafi did return to the field and took a full part in the post-match celebrations to honour Bastian Schweinsteiger’s final appearance for Die Mannschaft.
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