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Luiz Gustavo Explains Arsenal Snub

By on August 16, 2013

Arsenal missed out on another top transfer target today as Luiz Gustavo was revealed as a Wolfsburg player at a press conference on Friday afternoon.

Despite Arsenal being a ‘bigger’ club and being able to offer Champions League football, the Brazilian elected to join the side that finished 11th in the Bundesliga last season, much to the astonishment of many Gunners fans.

There were rumours that Gustavo had bottled a move to the Emirates as he wasn’t sure he’d be playing week-in, week-out, while he and his family are also said to be settled in Germany, and these sentiments were echoed in what the player had to say when he was asked why he’d chosen to join Wolfsburg over others clubs such as Arsenal.

“Wolfsburg are a top club. I like Germany. The security the country gives me,” he said. “I have considered everything. I knew about everything. My heart decided on Wolfsburg.

“Wolfsburg have always been after me. They wanted me from the very beginning. That is the reason, I am here. It is a good project here.”

“He [Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari] spoke his mind and that helped me find a decision,” Gustavo said.

“There were many other factors, too. The situation was not easy but I was in a luxury position.” Gustavo told ESPN

There were also rumours that Arsene Wenger had decided not to match Wolfsburg’s bid, which was reportedly over €20m while the player was believed to have been offered over €8m per year. However, General manager Klaus Allofs claims these figures are exaggerated.

“That overstates the case,” Allofs said, before adding that he was “delighted to have beaten international competition to the signature of Gustavo”.

So another transfer target has slipped through our fingers but I’m not convinced we can be blamed for this one. I get the feeling Gustavo wanted to stay in Germany and was ensured he’d play every week at Wolfsburg, and he thought this would be the safest way for him to secure a place in the Brazil squad at next summers World Cup.

Whether that’s the case remains to be seen as he’d surely cement his place not only in the squad but in the starting line-up if he was playing for Arsenal in the Champions League, but hey, the lad has made his decision so we need to move on.

Are you disappointed to miss out on Gustavo?

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