Arsenal Transfer News: Why Signing Thomas Eisfeld Makes No Sense for Gunners

With the mid-season transfer window coming to a close, and big names such as Mario Gotze and Eden Hazard teasing Arsenal fans, Arsene Wenger has pulled a rabbit out of his hat.

Unfortunately, that rabbit is a young, unproven, injury-prone backup from Borussia Dortmund.

Yes, instead of going after a big name that will immediately improve this squad, Wenger has completed the transfer of 19-year-old Thomas Eisfeld to Arsenal.

Eesh. 

It's possible that the attacking midfielder will make an impact in the future, but this is not a good signing for now.

First of all, he hasn't even been good enough or healthy enough to make much of an impact on Dortmund's first team. If he can't get any playing time there, it's very unlikely he'll carve out much of a role for the Gunners.

Secondly, at 19, Eisfeld already has the injury-prone label. In 2009, he suffered an injury to his cruciate ligament and apparently it was "career-threatening."

Well, that's just not good at all.

When a 17-year-old suffers a possible career-threatening injury, it's not good for his future. He underwent extensive tests before the transfer and apparently passed, but this is risky business indeed. 

If not for the knee injury, it's likely Eisfeld would have developed into a very good player. In fact, he still has the chance to develop into a great player.

But when studs like Eden Hazard are potentially available, you don't go and pluck a youngster off the Borussia bench. As Warren Haughton puts it, it's like Arsenal got confused when they went to Germany.

This transfer could very much look like a steal in a couple of years, but it will have little-to-no impact on the rest of this season. 

As for a cheap, potentially solid transfer for the future, this works. But the timing just doesn't make sense.