Arsenal defender Johan Djourou hopes that he will get another chance to impress Arsene Wenger as he looks to try and cement a place at the club.
The Swiss centre-back has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium since the start of the summer, as he currently finds himself way down the pecking order behind Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker of the Gunners defence.
Switzerland national team boss Ottmar Hitzfeld recently advised Djourou to leave North London to try to boost his chances of playing for his country, however, the player isn’t so keen on the idea.
“Naturally. [Hitzfeld] wants his players to be able to get game time at their respective clubs. I understand that completely,” Djourou told blick.ch.
When asked if he thought he should move clubs, he responded: “No.
“Arsenal have chosen to extend my contract because they’re counting on me.
“I did have a bad spell. However, I’m convinced that I will get another another chance and that I will grab that chance.”
Reports had claimed that Napoli were in talks to sign Djourou.
As the team’s longest-serving player, I would rule out Djourou staying with Arsenal.
Wenger seems to like him and, despite a dodgy campaign last year, he is capable of being a very good defender.
He has a great blend of power and strength mixed with speed and agility which is crucial in the Premier League.
However, I can’t see him getting ahead of three centre-backs mentioned above and if the club decides to draft another defender in, then that will probably signal the end of Johan Djourou’s love affair with Arsenal.
The £6.3m figure that is being mentioned isn’t a bad fee for a 25-year-old, fourth-choice centre-back, so you couldn’t blame the Gunners for accepting a offer like that.
As much as you like the guy from his ‘Arsenal Insider’ videos that are found on the official website, and below, if it is good business for the club then I’m afraid he must go.
Matt Cotton
@FindingCotton
a liability everytime he steps onto the football pitch – SELL HIM Wenger
go sign petition to get kroenke out
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/savearsenalfc
ah im so glad. great clubman and had a great season two seasons ago. arsenal supporters are so fickle. a much better option than mertesacker too.
could have easily have left to italy, and has very good reason to unlike some of our other arsenal players who leave the club so easily. im sure djourou will come good and prove all the ignoramus arsenal supporters wrong.
I dont mind either way he is decent enough for 4th choice. as long as we bring a better 2nd choice right back than jenkinson and get an extra left back. im quite happy for those 2 players to be bartley and botelho. though selling.or paying off squillaci to bring in yanga-mbwia would be my first choice. if djourou then moved on so that we could get.sakho then i would take that too.