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Arsenal Suffer Killer Blow in Julian Brandt Pursuit

By Ross Kennerley

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 6, 2020. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 6, 2020. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Witsel, Arsenal
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – JANUARY 09: Axel Witsel of Borussia Dortmund (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images) /

Borussia Dortmund Set to Keep Julian Brandt

As per usual this season, Brandt took up his place on the Dortmund bench as his side traveled to RB Leipzig for a top of the table Bundesliga clash.

Regular central midfielder Axel Witsel tore his achilles tendon during Dortmund’s win on Saturday, a hammer blow in itself to the promotion chasers who will now be without the Belgian for the remainder of the season, with surgery needed to repair the damage.

Thomas Delaney, Emre Can, Jude Bellingham, Brandt and Mahmoud Dahoud are the other options in Terzić’s favoured double pivot system, and while there were suggestions that the club may dip into the market to compensate for Witsel’s long-term absence, sporting director Michael Zorc has insisted they won’t be active.

"“We will fill this void with our own personnel,” he told Sport1. “Emre did very well after stepping in as a like-for-like replacement for Axel, and Jude will be back from injury next week. We are not worried about this situation.”"

While Brandt may have only moved up one place in the pecking order, he is certain to earn more minutes this season as the club battle on multiple fronts. Central midfield is an area he’s played numerous times before and his experience of the role is certain to bring an end to any chance of a mid-season departure.

Next. Pepe Perks Up. dark

How serious Arsenal were about the deal, or indeed if they had their sights set on a summer move anyway, is now fairly irrelevant. A tough deal to pull off in the first place, a page can be turned on Brandt until the end of the season at the earliest and focus turned elsewhere.

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