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Arsenal relief palpable as striker stays put on Deadline Day

| 01.09.2016

Lost among all the usual criticism of Arsenal’s tightness in the transfer window, was some very important business conducted by notorious spendthrift Arsene Wenger.

Eclipsed by Jack Wilshere’s Deadline Day-hogging loan move to…Bournemouth and the near £90m spent on just three players this summer, another sensational event occurred at the Emirates.

Perhaps fearing new £16m striker Lucas Perez will not necessarily hit the ground running, Wenger put the blockers on another of his centre-forwards leaving the roost.

Preventing Yaya Sanogo heading for Leeds United seemed to get brushed under the carpet in the maelstrom of Deadline Day, but it could prove to be another Wenger masterstroke.

Sanogo, 23, has enjoyed a fruitful three seasons with the Gunners since arriving as a precocious 20-year-old centre-forward from Auxerre.

He’s netted one goal in 20 senior appearances for the Londoners and followed that up with a memorable loan spell at Crystal Palace, where he left the Selhurst Park faifthful hungry for more thanks to a single strike in 11 outings as an Eagle.

When a short-term loan to Ajax didn’t work out, Sanogo did flourish in the Championship last season after joining Charlton on loan, returning three goals in eight second-tier appearances.

Leeds’ interest is certainly warranted, but it’s understandable that Wenger fought to retain his compatriot’s services.

With Danny Welbeck sidelined until February and Olivier Giroud yet to resurface after his own injury troubles incurred after a busy summer, Sanogo may be called upon to lead the line.

Chuba Akpom’s decision to stay and fight for his place at the Emirates also gives Gunners fans the security they needed that the centre-forward stocks are rich enough to challenge the likes of the Manchester clubs and Chelsea, despite the trio beginning very strongly this season.

We make Wenger’s men the 11/1 fourth favourites to win the Premier League this season.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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Author

Christian Crowther

Give Christian a sport with anything remotely spherical in it and he’ll happily while away the hours watching it on the box. However, he’d much prefer writing about, playing or betting on golf, football, cricket, tennis, snooker.... you get the picture.