Arsenal midfielder Kim Kallstrom has revealed his January deadline day loan move from Spartak Moscow to Emirates Stadium was ‘bewildering’.
The 31-year-old was Arsene Wenger’s solitary addition in the mid-season window, as the Frenchman sought to better his side’s chances of winning silverware for the first time since 2005.
But Wenger has since revealed the looming transfer deadline forced his hand and he would not have brought Kallstrom to north London if time was on his side.
As the clock ticked down on deadline day, Arsenal went ahead with the acquisition of Kallstrom despite his medical highlighting a microfracture in his back.
The Sweden international came into Arsenal’s squad for the first time in Saturday’s 6-0 defeat to Chelsea, but he remained on the bench and is still yet to make his debut for the Gunners.
"It was bewildering [joining Arsenal] to say the least," the midfielder told Sport Expressen. "It went very quickly.
"It was surprising. It was nothing I had expected. Of course I was surprised.
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"I've had a good career, they needed an experienced player and I fit the profile and took the opportunity."
Kallstrom is in line to make his debut against Swansea City on Tuesday, as Arsenal bid to bounce back from Saturday’s thrashing at Stamford Bridge.
And as he prepares to return to action, the former Lyon man praised Arsenal’s medical procedures, which have been scrutinised in recent weeks after a catalogue of injuries and further setbacks.
He added: “Then everyone at Arsenal took care of me very well, it's been great care and rehabilitation.”
"Everything has been well managed and I have received good care and rehabilitation. It has gone very well."
