'Arsenal move was a surprise', says Kim Källström

Kim Källström has admitted for the first time that his loan move to Arsenal came about as a ‘surprise’, with reports suggesting that he could make his debut against Swansea later tonight.

The 31-year-old joined Arsenal on loan from Spartak Moscow despite a scan showing he had damaged vertebrae and would be ruled out for up to 6 weeks.

Fit-again Källström was on the bench during the damaging defeat to Chelsea last Saturday and is expected to be involved in some capacity as Arsenal face Swansea at Emirates Stadium this evening.

“It was nothing I could have expected. Of course I was surprised [when Arsenal approached him]. But then I’ve still had ​​a solid career, and they needed that type of player and I took the opportunity,” said Källström.

“[The injury] was bewildering to say the least. It went by very quickly. Then all at Arsenal took care of me very well, it’s been great care and rehabilitation. Everything has been well maintained and I have received good care and rehabilitation. It has gone very well.”

Wenger has repeatedly praised Källström’s attitude in training and has a long-standing admiration of the Swede following his impressive six-year spell with French giants Lyon.

Meanwhile, Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have both been cleared to play against Swansea following the red card confusion which saw the former wrongly sent off at Stamford Bridge last week.

Arsenal’s title ambitions hang in the balance after their 6-0 drubbing against Chelsea, making tonight’s game even more crucial with just 8 games left of the Premier League season.