Arsene Wenger admits Kim Kallstrom's injury

Arsène Wenger has admitted that he would not have sanctioned the loan signing of Kim Kallstrom if there was more time to find an alternative and knows that the injured Swede might never play for Arsenal.

A scan at around 5pm on Friday, the deadline day of the transfer window, revealed that Kallstrom, who had flown in from Abu Dhabi, has a microfracture on his back and will be ruled out for around six weeks.

Wenger almost cancelled the deal but, after Spartak Moscow agreed to continue paying Kallstrom’s wages for at least another six weeks, he eventually went through with Arsenal’s only January signing. “It crossed my mind not to complete the deal,” Wenger said.

“I would not have signed him if we’d had two or three more days to do something. It was 5pm, so sign him or nobody. We had to sign him in these conditions. We might need the players in March or April. We think it will be four to six weeks out.”

The problem for Arsenal, however, is that they wanted a holding midfield specifically to cover the next six weeks. Aaron Ramsey is out for that period with a thigh injury, Mathieu Flamini is suspended for two more games while Jack Wilshere has been carrying an ankle injury, although hopes to return against Liverpool next week. Mikel Arteta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also be assessed on Monday after suffering knocks in the 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on Sunday, although neither injury is thought to be serious.

Kallstrom has been on Wenger’s radar for some time, a player noted for his composure and control in his native country Sweden.