Transfer D-day drama
SHOCK NO.1: WILSHERE
SEEKS REBIRTH
AT BOURNEMOUTH
Jack Wilshere's biggest downfall in his Arsenal career has been the namesake reputation which precedes him - he's a jack of all trades but a master of none.
More notorious for spearheading Tottenham-hating diatribes than he is for the commanding midfield performances which once saw him hold his own against Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, a lot has changed in the five years since he had the world at his feet.
Injuries have been a large contributing factor, but the greatest obstacle to Wilshere's renaissance has always been the player himself.
The one-time prodigy is not simply drinking in the Last Chance Saloon; he has run up a considerable bar tab while there.
At a time when Sam Allardyce bewilderingly afforded free passes to several of England's serial under-performers at Euro 2016, the 24-year-old's absence for the forthcoming World Cup qualifier with Slovakia was among the most notable if unexpected.
In France, he had been a passenger at best - going through the motions in the horror shows that were Slovakia and Iceland
It was little surprise that he made only a combined 17 appearances for Arsenal in the previous two seasons, completing 90 minutes just once.
Arsene Wenger's decision to hook Wilshere nine times of the 10 that he started is why, six-and-a-half years on from the original loan spell which proved to be the making of his EPL career, he is back on the move again; this time to Bournemouth.
It represents a chance to revive what little hope remains for him at the Emirates Stadium, where his closest competition has not only been increased but also significantly enhanced with this summer's £30-million ($53.6m) arrival of Granit Xhaka.
Despite those limited outings, Arsenal were still considering offering Wilshere a new contract extension.
A sojourn on the English coast will serve as a double-edged shot at redemption and an audition to prove he is worthy of staying beyond the summer of 2018.
Accepting that joining Eddie Howe's side will provide an opportunity to right the wrongs and shattered the perceptions and damned statistics which have followed his career is a progressive step compared to some of the more attractive offers that were on the table.
Broadening his horizons away from the fast-paced life of the Premier League in a spell with Roma would have ultimately proved detrimental.
RISKY
The last two Arsenal exports who went to the Italian capital - Ashley Cole and Wojciech Sczezny - fiddled while their careers burned.
Festering on the Emirates' substitutes bench, watching the likes of Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey taking his place would have had a similarly damaging impact on Wilshere's career which is already smarting from a fair share of self-inflicted singeing.
He continues to resonate with Arsenal fans as one of their own; a boyhood fan who graduated through the club's academy ranks and into the first-team spotlight.
The outcry at Manchester City potentially ripping out their homegrown heartbeat little more than 12 months ago underlined that depth of affection which Wilshere retains.
Beyond that wide-eyed sentiment, however, lies a player unsuccessfully trying to trade off his past billing.
He is no more a future star than some of the admittedly younger company he will keep at Bournemouth, such as former Liverpool prodigy Jordon Ibe.
The charms of Hollywood are hardly an alien concept for the Cherries, having allowed an American film crew to document their rise from the fourth tier of English football.
Should he transform his own underdog story into something other than its current cautionary tale, Wilshere would offer Tinseltown's producers a compelling sequel.
SHOCK NO.2: LUIZ IS A BLUE AGAIN
Brazil defender David Luiz is overjoyed to be back for a second spell at Chelsea after leaving Paris St Germain on transfer deadline day on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old, who quit Stamford Bridge for Paris in a world record fee of £50 million ($89m) for a defender, has returned for a fee that media reports put at £34m.
Luiz won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup in his three years at Chelsea after joining from Benfica in 2011.
"It's fantastic to have this second opportunity to play for this club. I love this club, that's why I am here," Luiz told www.chelseafc.com.
"It will be an amazing opportunity to show the fans again how I love this club.
"I cannot wait to wear the shirt and play at Stamford Bridge again."
David Luiz. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM.COM/CHELSEAFC
Luiz, who won two consecutive Ligue 1 crowns with PSG but was in danger of losing his place to compatriot Marquinhos this season, said he wanted to fight for more trophies with Chelsea.
"Of course, I want to win the Premier League and, of course, I want to win all the titles again," he added.
"I am here because I have ambition to play for a big club and when you play for a big club you need to think about winning every single match."
Luiz could feature in Chelsea's next game at Swansea City on Sept 11.
Chelsea had already landed Fiorentina's former Bolton left back Marcos Alonso for a reported £23m earlier in the day and also allowed Juan Cuadrado to rejoin Italian champions Juventus on a three-year loan for an annual fee of five million euros ($7.6m), with the option for the deal to be made permanent for 25m euros. - Wire Services.
SHOCK NO.3: SPURS SWOOP FOR SISSOKO
Tottenham's gain, Everton's pain.
Spurs swooped in to beat Everton to the signature of France midfielder Moussa Sissoko for a reported £30-million ($53.6m) fee on transfer deadline day on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old former Newcastle star signed a five-year contract but may have work to do to win over Tottenham fans, having reportedly spoken in previous interviews about his love for his new team's north London rivals Arsenal.
But he said that he was "very proud" to join Spurs yesterday.
"I'm very happy, very proud to be here," he said on tottenhamhotspur.com.
"I am in the prime of my career and I want to play for a big team. I have the chance now with Tottenham so I'm looking forward and I hope we will do well in the Premier League and in the Champions League also.
"I've said a lot of times that I want to play in the Champions League so that's one of the reasons why I came here - to have the possibility and the chance to play this year.
"I will fight every day at the training ground and then in the games and give my best for this team. I hope we will all do well together."
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM.COM/SPURSOFFICIAL
Earlier, Tottenham signed Marseille forward Georges-Kevin Nkoudou on a five-year deal, with Clinton N'Jie going the other way on a season-long loan.
The 21-year-old Nkoudou, a France youth international capped at the Under-21 level, scored five goals in 28 league games last season as Marseille finished 13th.
Cameroon international N'Jie, 23, joined Spurs from Lyon in August last year but suffered with injury and featured only eight times in the league last season. - Wire Services.
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