Wenger may swoop after Robin blow
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger admits he could be tempted to make a last-ditch dip into the transfer market after Robin van Persie’s injury jinx struck again.
The 27-year-old, who missed five months of last season after damaging ankle ligaments, is likely to be sidelined for “at least a few weeks” according to the Dutch Football Association after going over on his ankle again in the 2-1 victory at Blackburn on Saturday.
It means van Persie will miss the Gunners’ first Champions League group clash with Braga at the Emirates in two weeks’ time, as well as Holland’s opening European Championship qualifiers against San Marino and Finland this week.
Boss Wenger admitted over the weekend that movement in the transfer market was “dead”, but on closer inspection of van Persie’s latest problem, the Frenchman has not ruled out making a late swoop for cover ahead of tonight’s 5pm deadline.
“It is dead at the moment, but maybe not finished,” said Wenger, who has already added striker Marouane Chamakh and defensive duo Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Schillaci to the Arsenal ranks this summer.
“At the moment I would say, as it is today, it is finished.”
Bringing in a goalkeeper has been high on Wenger’s ‘to do’ list all summer, although a deal to bring Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer to the Emirates looks to have hit the buffers.
The Gunners have been linked with a move for Wigan’s £10m-rated striker Hugo Rodallega, while Wenger is also said to be keen on St Etienne front man Emmanuel Riviere.
One deal which is likely to be completed today, however, is the departure of Armand Traore with both Juventus and Birmingham vying to take the left-back on a season loan. Defender Mikael Silvestre, released in the summer, has joined Werder Bremen.