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Striker responds to reports he almost joined Arsenal on deadline day

By on September 2, 2015

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played down speculation suggesting he came close to joining Arsenal on deadline day, according to the Mirror.

Arsene Wenger was understood to be frantically looking to bring in another striker during the closing stages of the transfer window after missing out on key target Karim Benzema.

Photos emerged of Wenger travelling to Paris on Monday and this led to rumours he was in France for talks to sign Edinson Cavani from Paris Saint-Germain.

Reports then suggested that PSG had offered us the chance to sign veteran striker Ibrahimovic and bookmakers reacted by slashing the odds of the enigmatic Swede making the move to North London.

However, Ibrahimovic has now responded to the rumours by insisting he was never close to joining Arsenal and although he concedes there was interest from AC Milan, he claims he was always going to remain in Paris.

When asked if he considered joining Arsenal on deadline day, Ibra is quoted as saying by the Mirror:

“No, so the interest that existed, I have not committed myself to.

“It is [agent] Mino [Raiola] who takes care of the pieces. When I give notice that I want something to happen I get involved. But this summer I have been resting up, I enjoyed the holiday.”

“[The interest] was concrete from their [Milan’s] side,”

“[There was] a lot of interest but I said from the beginning that I will stay with PSG.

“I like it, we have a good team, my family feel good and it’s just positive with Paris and PSG. But they wanted, they wanted much.

“I know that Milan were a bit desperate.”

I said yesterday that any move for Zlatan would be difficult at such a late stage of the summer and it was no surprise when nothing came of the rumours.

It seems Arsene left it too late and took a big risk that one of his key targets would become available, but now we’re stuck without a top class striker and I fear our realistic chances of landing the title have already gone.

Only time will tell how costly it will be for Arsenal not to have strengthened our outfield this summer, but I have a feeling we already know the answer…..

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