Johan Djourou will definitely return to Arsenal in January when his
loan deal at Birmingham expires.
Alex McLeish had been keen to keep the Swiss international defender
at St Andrews but Arsene Wenger has requested that the player
return to the Emirates.
Djourou had followed in the footsteps of Fabrice Muamba and Nicklas
Bendtner by joining the Midlands outfit on-loan, but after making
12 appearances for the club he will now return to London.
The main reason behind Wenger's desire for Djourou to return to his
parent club is that Kolo Toure is due to represent the Ivory Coast
at the African Cup of Nations, a situation which will leave Arsenal
short of defensive options.
Despite being disappointed that he is losing the player, McLeish
accepts his fellow manager's decision.
Presence
"Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has told me he is taking him back in
January," the former Scotland boss told the Birmingham Mail.
"He will be a loss, for sure. It is disappointing that he is not
going to be with us for much longer.
"But, you have to respect Arsenal's decision.
"Johan is a big presence of a boy, no doubt about that, and those
kind of players seem to be a feature of many a squad in the Premier
League."
