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Luiz Gustavo Explains Arsenal Snub

By mac14 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?

Arsenal transfer news

22 Comments

Chris

August 16, 2013 at 4:42 pm

How can you be disappointed that a player clearly looking out for himself and his international prospects turned us down?
We’ve had too many players in it for themselves over the years. We need talented, ambitious, hard-working players, not content to simply collect a wage or walk unopposed into a team.
Whilst it’s frustrating that we haven’t signed anybody of note, it’s better to keep our powder dry for if/when the right targets become available, than blow 15-20 million each on 2/3 players who wouldn’t significantly improve the starting 11.
Contrary to popular belief, our starting 11 isn’t bad at all, and players good enough to replace those in it are not readily available or commonplace.
Though our squad is thin, we don’t need squad players; we need players that can turn a few starting 11 players into squad players.

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- JrGoonar
  
  August 16, 2013 at 4:56 pm
  
  “we don’t need squad players; we need players that can turn a few starting 11 players into squad players” Exactafrigginmondo! Most spot on comment I’ve seen in a long time.
  
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- Mick
  
  August 16, 2013 at 5:53 pm
  
  Well said Chris. A rare intelligent, measured comment, a change from the 90% of posts which are the exact opposite. It seems the majority of fans want Wenger to spend some f*****g money just for the sake of it. What about all the signings that Spurs have made they point out. Yes they have bought some players but would any of them have improved our starting eleven? Doubtful I would say. Lets wait and see before we write this transfer window off.
  
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Omotola Koletowo

August 16, 2013 at 5:01 pm

Luis Gustavo is a good D.M but not as good as Song that left Arsenal last season. He’ said it all, he does wanna play week-in week-out and he thinks the competition at Arsenal’s midfield won’t let that come true for him. This simply means, he doesnt believe in himself. We need players that have self confidence like Alex Song but its unfortunate he’s not on good terms with Arsene Wenger. Hopefully, we should sign Suarez and a much needed D.M. I’m also a football but no means to travel oit of Nigeria for trials. I believe i can make it to Arsenal one day. COYG

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henry marcus

August 16, 2013 at 5:28 pm

arsenal till i die,am still an arsenal fan no matter what.i understand the deap fustration that my fellow fans are going through.we should allow wenger to do his job,i believe in our current squard,though we still need few more players like an attacker.d.m,s.d & a goal stopper in the likes of julio,…my fellow fans please do not lose hope or give up…just be always optimistic like me that one day we will be the best and redeem our great name…..i am also a football but there is no connection to play for the junior gunners…i need help..here is my contact,henry4life.ng@live.com or +2348189622599……..we love u arsenal

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Ogbegeri kolawole

August 16, 2013 at 5:31 pm

A W shud try fellaini. Arsenal shud try and sign good players. In fact, am in pains over his non challant attitude towards signing of players.

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Michael Staley

August 16, 2013 at 5:40 pm

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.
Yes, it was clear from his remarks. I think that Wenger knows what he is looking for, and will not buy simply for the sake of it.

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Olu-philip

August 16, 2013 at 5:42 pm

This not challant attitude, this sturboness and wickedness in wenger and the board.

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Olu-philip

August 16, 2013 at 5:44 pm

This is not challant attitude, this sturboness and wickedness in wenger and the board.

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mergo

August 16, 2013 at 5:59 pm

Let AW bring back gervhino!!!

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Uzootimevarist

August 16, 2013 at 6:01 pm

I am not dissapointed so long as lars bender is still available.. He is far better than gustavo and can be a world class player in two years time..wenger should simply up the bid and sign him before bayern leverkusern change their mind and raise his release clause..good luck vs villa

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tunde

August 16, 2013 at 6:17 pm

So, there is a brazilian national team player somewhere who is afraid of coming to Arsenal because of the fear of being benched. Therefore, when will Arsenal fans appreciate what they have?

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ODO EMMA

August 16, 2013 at 6:26 pm

Another One Bits The Dust!I Still Have Hope We Will Come Through This Transfer Window A Bigger And Better Team To The Shame Of All Fans Of Little Faith

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Oguntuase Amos

August 16, 2013 at 6:32 pm

Whether some fans agreed or not, the present Arsenal squad is solid. Look at how they took City to the cleaners with solid display and clinical finishing. It is pity that we do not appreciate them . The team that beat Bayern and went 10 unbeaten games is still intact. Most of the players signed by City and Tothenham are only big in names and costly in prices but cannot displace any of our first eleven playing in same position. Let us leave Wenger alone to do his job

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Gabriel Nyumba

August 16, 2013 at 8:21 pm

This is too tiresome, wenger tell us what is your interest? Gustavo Suarez are all rejected Arsenal sit down and think

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sebas

August 16, 2013 at 9:00 pm

His advisors must really be out of tune with the world if they think he would not be playing all the time here because he would.

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Imran

August 16, 2013 at 10:19 pm

Since gustavo was really afraid when he come to arsenal he can find himself on the bench no problem still there is a chance of getting someone to compete in the club.Up gunners

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Abu Rahman

August 16, 2013 at 10:38 pm

I’m not all disappointed. Gustavo signed for Wolfsburg just because of the money involved which he thinks he might not get at Arsenal. The way he talked, he not only lacks confidence to compete in a bigger Club but also shows clearly that he is just one the modern.mercenaries we have in the game. Let me also remind him that his chances of making the Selecao team to next year’s World Cup will grow slimmer and slimmer by the day!

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Abu Rahman

August 16, 2013 at 10:39 pm

I’m not all disappointed. Gustavo signed for Wolfsburg just because of the money involved which he thinks he might not get at Arsenal. The way he talked, he not only lacks confidence to compete in a bigger Club but also shows clearly that he is just one of the modern mercenaries we have in the game. Let me also remind him that his chances of making the Selecao team to next year’s World Cup will grow slimmer and slimmer by the day!

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precious gunners

August 17, 2013 at 6:33 am

Wenger has always deceived the fans every transfer season and I see no difference this season too. He often talk about top too top quality yet he bought the likes of Squilaci, Chamak,Bentner and other deadwoods. I never trusted him and I know he is buying no body than Flamini and Marica to join Sanogo who are all free .What a miser. I laugh when he talks about top top top quality, AreJovrtic, Higuain not quality players, was he not alive when the likes of Aguerio, Lewandosky,Ronaldos of this world were available? Why always drcieving people?

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Jason

August 17, 2013 at 8:15 am

Gustavo was always going to wolfsburg as Aulas the owner of Wolfsburg sits on the board of Bayern Munich as he runs VW car manufacturer and it was a so called present from bayern.

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WC

August 17, 2013 at 2:10 pm

Gustavo is a good player but worth 115k a week he is not. He was a bench warmer and now somehow he should be paid that kind of money? No thanks and I can’t blame Arsene for not caving into that ridiculous wage

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