10 things you should know about Arsenal’s loan Gunner

Kim Kallstrom joined Arsenal from Spartak Moscow for the remainder of the season last night.

A lot will know who the experienced Swede is, but if you are someone who doesn’t know about him, well here 10 things you should know about the new Gunner:

1. Born in Sandviken, Sweden, Kallstrom, 31, is a versatile midfielder who stands at 6’1’’ and is known for his dribbling skills, technique and vision. He has played for five different clubs before joining Arsenal on loan.

2. He began his playing career for Swedish outfit BK Hacken, where he made a total of 75 appearances and found the back of the net 16 times. But his breakthrough in Sweden came when he joined Djurgardens IF in 2002. In his two years stay, Kallstrom won the Swedish league back to back and the Svenska Cupen in his first season.

3. In January 2004, the Swede made the move to French club Rennes. He had a two-and-a-half year stay at the Route de Lorient, making 85 appearances in all competitions and contributing 20 goals, before signing for Lyon in June 2006.

4. It was at Lyon where Kallstrom began to establish himself for both club and country. In his six years at the Stade de Gerland, the creative midfielder helped the French outfit lift the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France and Trophee Des Champions twice. He played 260 games for Lyon, scoring 22 goals and creating 31.

5. Kallstrom has been a part of the Sweden national side since 2001 and has scored 16 goals in 108 caps for the Biagult (The blue and yellow).

6. In 2012, the experienced Swede headed to current club Spartak Moscow from Lyon for around £3.5 million.

7. Since his move to the Russian club, Kallstrom has scored just two goals in 20 appearances (16 as a starter) in all competitions thus far.

8. This season for the Moscow side, however, the Swede has made just nine appearances and scored once, this coming against Zenit in September last year.

9. Despite making an appearance in the Europa League for Spartak this season, Kallstrom will be eligible to play for the Gunners in the Champions League.

10. Having joined Arsenal on deadline day, Kallstrom said on the move – ‘Arsenal is an amazing club with a lot of great players and a coach who has done really well here for a long time. I am so pleased to come here to learn as much as possible. I’m here to do my best for Arsenal and to help out the team, so we can achieve good results for the last part of the season.’