Bordeaux Shuts Door on Homecoming for Arsenal's Chamakh

There will be no happy homecoming to Bordeaux for current Arsenal forward Marouane Chamakh. Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud has stated Chamakh will not be rejoining the club, according to The Daily Mail.

This would seem to put an end to the speculation Chamakh was heading back to Bordeaux after two seasons where the Moroccan international failed to impress. Returning to Ligue 1 seemed to be a definite for Chamakh heading into the summer. There was talk of Chamakh being part of an offer for Montpellier’s Olivier Giroud. Nothing concrete ever materialized on the Montpellier front, leaving Bordeaux as the favored landing spot by those who had an opinion.

Chamakh had enjoyed success in his nine years with Bordeaux. While never a high-number goal scorer, Chamakh was consistent and worked within the framework of the team. He was part of Bordeaux’s Ligue 1 title squad that broke Lyon’s dominant run in the 2008-2009 campaign. He left for Arsenal in 2010 on a free transfer after turning down a contract extension.

As with any newcomer to Arsenal, expectations were high. His height and ability to hold the ball up led many Gunners fans to believe he would be a difference maker in the lineup. Chamakh had a solid start to his Arsenal career, but fizzled out after the first few months in London. Whether it was a drop in confidence or a failure to adjust to the pressure of playing for Arsenal, Chamakh was unable to live up to the expectations placed upon him.

It is not surprising that Bordeaux have turned their back on their former forward. After leaving them on a free transfer, he may have burnt some important bridges with the French club. Considering Bordeaux’s spectacular form the second half of last season, bringing in a player expecting to have his first-team spot back may not do well for team chemistry. 

With additions made to the Arsenal front line, Chamakh will have a tough time finding his way into the first team. With Bordeaux out of the picture, Arsene Wenger will have to dig deep to find a place to offload Chamakh. 

Chamakh's wages are potentially the biggest stumbling block to a move. If Arsenal cannot find a transfer partner, then a loan deal with Arsenal picking up a portion of the wages may be the best way for Chamakh to garner interest.