Wenger: We Wouldn’t Have Signed Kallstrom If It Wasn’t Deadline Day

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that the deadline day loan signing of midfielder Kim Kallstrom was a gamble.

Wenger signed the Swedish international to ease his injury worries with Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere both struggling for fitness, but Kallstrom is currently from a back complaint which is due to keep him for a month.

Kallstrom at Arsenal unveiling

Many have called The Frenchman’s judgement into question following the news, but Wenger was quick to defend his decision.

“First of all it’s very difficult to identify a player, who can come in, of that stature and then we made a medical (check) of his back and we found out he had a little micro-fracture. We have all played with micro-fractures. Then Spartak Moscow accepted to share the costs – as long as he’s injured they will pay – and we had a decision to make,” he told Sky Sports.

However, Wenger revealed that he considered pulling out of the deal and that he would not have even pursued the 31 year-old if he had had more time before the transfer deadline.

“Yes of course it crossed my mind (to pull out of the deal). I would not have signed him if we had two or three more days to do something, but it was Friday night at five o’clock, so it was a case of you sign nobody or you do it under these conditions. I decided to do it because we might, because of the number of games we have now in February, need the players in March or April,” declared Wenger.

Arsenal’s upcoming fixture list is a daunting prospect and although Kallstrom’s arrival reeks of panic and desperation it could also prove to be a wise move later in the season if vital players within the Arsenal set up suffer an injury.

“We could have gone without, but first of all you must identify a player who has the quality to play for us in January. Then, because we have the number of players needed in that area, they have to be not locked in a deal of three or four years, where you pay the players to do nothing.

“So to find a player on a free loan, of that quality, on Wednesday morning until Friday night, is not easy. At some stage in our job you have to make a decision. Are you wrong or right? You will only know at the end of the season,” he said.

However, the deal for Kallstrom will not leave The Gunners faithful brimming with confidence, while the player’s self esteem will be far from boosted in the knowledge he is merely a back-up option.

Despite being linked with a string of high profile targets Arsenal failed to deliver, although Wenger has hinted he is likely to spend money in the summer. But the superb chance to end the long running trophy drought at The Emirates may already have passed.

“We are not against spending, but at the moment we are focused on the second part of the season, and at the end of the season we will see what we will do. You have announced a lot of transfers in your papers that have not happened, in many places, that means it is not as easy as it looks, even with money, to buy the right players in that period,” Wenger insisted.