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Arsenal Thursday confirmed the permanent departure of Johan Djourou to Hamburg.

The Swiss centre half spent last season on loan at Hamburg, and the previous six months before that with Hanover in Germany.

Johan Djourou was one of the youth signings of Arsene Wenger arriving from Etiole Carouge in Switzerland as a 16 year old in 2003.

He played his part in Arsenal’s folklore. And at one time, he was the key man in Arsenal’s defence, a scenario that resulted in him not being part of a losing side in the league at some point for a while.

He was instrumental to Arsenal’s title challenge in the 2010/2011 season. And he was like a man possessed in Arsenal’s 3-1 wins over Chelsea at the Emirates in December, 2010.

He played a pivotal role that season. But, his new found form deserted him after his shoulder injury against Newcastle United at St. James Park in February, 2010.

A match Arsenal surrendered a four goal lead, something that wouldn’t have happened if the Johan Djourou was on the pitch. Such was his influence on the team then.

He never quite returned the same player after that shoulder injury, and seems to lose confidence, found himself mostly at right full back after that before his loan spells culminated in a permanent departure.

The pace of the German Bundesliga would suit him better, than that of the Premier League. Some thing he struggled with at times during his time here.

He will always be remembered for his contributions that season where Arsenal was in with a shout for the quadruple. Soft spoken, we wish him the best of luck in Germany with Hamburg.

With his departure now confirmed, it means Arsenal have raked in monies from the deals of Carlos Vela, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Vermaelen together with the Johan Djourou. That means further addition to the club’s budget for the coming season. There is still a need for central defender and a defensive midfielder.

Already, the club has spent £60 million pounds on four players more than the sums spent in any other summer in the club’s history.

In effect, the net spent for the transfer market would reduce when the sums gotten from player’s departures that are not in the club any more are included.

The club has essentially done well in this regard by raking in good sums from players not in the books of the club.

It is believed that these sums would go into getting the much needed defensive midfielder and a central defender.

 

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