Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Takuma Asano will be sent out on loan after failing to obtain a work permit to play football in the Premier League.
The Gunners boss admitted that the club will not have the Japan international available for the entire campaign, despite signing him just over a month ago.
At 21 years old, Asano was a surprise capture from Sanfrecce Hiroshima and cost the North London side just over £5million, a figure that many questioned.
Primarily a forward, the youngster represented his country at the Rio Olympics which gave supporters a chance to see what Wenger saw in him.
However, those impressive showings will not be replicated in an Arsenal shirt this season, as Wenger confirmed to the press following the 0-0 draw with Leicester City.
He’s a player I believe in a lot. I will take care of him and make sure he gets to the right place.
(Why didn’t he get a permit?) Because he didn’t cost £50million.
Wenger is clearly hung up about the decision to refuse Asano’s application, but it’s not a scenario that will be new to him after the struggles Joel Campbell had with getting permission to play in the country.
Asano failed to meet the requirements to play in the Premier League, and a spot will now open up in the first team where Yaya Sanogo is expected to retain his back-up forward role.
The striker is currently nursing a minor injury but Wenger openly stated that he was in his plans as an attacking option for the season (make of that what you will Arsenal fans).
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