Arsenal failed with a bid for Olympique Lyon star Yoann Gourcuff this week.
Manager Arsene Wenger eventually managed to recruit Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta on Deadline Day but only after he was knocked back in his effort to land the former AC Milan star.
"I had a call on the penultimate day of the transfer window [from] Gilles Grimandi for a loan deal," Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas told RMC.
"We believe in the recovery of Yoann. He has just resumed training.
"We made the choice [to keep] Gourcuff, just like last year.
"It was difficult [for him] last year. Hopefully he is going to prove his capabilities this year."
