Ismet Lushaku explains why his trial with Arsenal didn’t happen and confirms he still hopes to go back to the club in the future.

Ismet Lushaku (Photo via Lushaku on Instagram)
Ismet Lushaku (Photo via Lushaku on Instagram)

Earlier this week, we reported on quotes from Ismet Lushaku admitting it would be ‘great’ to play for Arsenal, after his trial with the club fell through. The 19-year-old has since explained the full story in his own words.

“They had been looking at me for a while and wanted to see me in their environment,” Lushaku said (via Fotboll Skanalen). “I then received an invitation to go and train and play with the (Arsenal) u23 team.

“Three days before I went, Mikel Arteta contracted corona. After that, I was told that no one could come in anymore for trial games, and those who were there for trial games should go home.

“They did not want to risk me being infected or that I could be infected and infect people here. Then, there was nothing.”

It’s certainly bad luck for a pandemic to interrupt your chance at a trial with Arsenal Football Club. Lushaku doesn’t deny his disappointment, but he just wants to focus on performing for his current club and getting another chance with Arsenal in the future.

“It was a little tough, but it was still good, too,” Lushaku continued. “Health comes first, even if you want to go and train with a club like Arsenal, see how they train with their conditions and such.

“It was a bit sour, but my chance will come again if they are really interested. They’re still in contact with my agents.

“I think it’s good for me to show up now in the Superettan (Swedish second tier) and dominate a little bit before I leave too. I want to do a good job here before I move on, but I definitely want to take the next step if I get the chance.”

Who is Ismet Lushaku?

Lushaku made himself a regular in the Swedish first division last campaign. He made 12 appearances from May to August, before unfortunately dropping out of the starting lineup in the final two months of the season as Eskilstuna succumbed to relegation.

The midfielder only made one substitute appearance in their final eight games (in their only win).

As well as his league appearances, Lushaku has also played four times in the cup so far. He scored his first goal in one of those fixtures in February.

The player also made his first senior international appearance for Kosovo in January, coming off the bench for 32 minutes against Sweden.

The teenager was actually born in Sweden, hence ending up in their youth system. He describes it as an enjoyable experience.

“It was really fun,” Lushaku admits. “When you were younger you always wanted to come to Bosön and play in the youth national team (in Sweden), but I never really got the chance and instead got the chance with Kosovo’s u21 national team.

“Then I got to be there and play the European Championship qualifiers and when I saw that Kosovo would meet Sweden I thought ‘damn, it’s fun to think I could be selected and face Sweden’. Then it happened and it was cool and fun to meet them.”