Arsenal

[Shevchenko]

Decent business, but still think you needed one more striker. RVP will get injured, no doubt it might happen during an international break, and if he is injured, then you don't really have decent cover. Unless Chamakh shows the form he had for the first three months of last season.

[Dude Ranch]

the Yossi deal isn't a bad one either

Well, considering it's not our main signing it could turn out to be OK. Not amazingly happy given the money we have but as a squad player he could be worse . Welcome Yossi.

[Rev]

Letting Bendtner go is stupid.

I don't even get to buy a Sporting shirt.

[KRP]

I'm more relieved than anything. Really looking forward to the Swansea game now.

[pinholestar]

-------------------------------RvP------------------------------

--Gervinho-------------------------------------------Theo---

----------------Ramsey/Arteta-------Wilshere--------------

-------------------------Song/Frimpong----------------------

Gibbs/Santos-----Mertesacker-----Vermaelen----Sagna

---------------------------Szczesny---------------------------

With backup from: Benayoun, Arshavin, Park, Koscielny & Rosicky among others.

That looks a lot healthier than it did a few days ago.

Agreed about a quality lack of cover for Van Persie though. Can't say I'm filled with confidence about Park & it would take a big turnaround for Chamakh to start firing again, so let's hope Robin can do the unthinkable & stay fit for the majority of the season. We can but dream.

I was holding out for a Hazard or Götze - a high-profile creative midfield signing to bring a buzz back to the place, but I guess we leave that sort of shit to the likes of Chelsea & Citeh. Still, in light of our transfer policy in recent seasons & the frankly horrific display at the weekend we can go to bed a little happier, I think. (I'd still like to know where all the money's going though.....)

[g wings]

I guess we have spent somewhere in the region of $50 million this summer? Not bad by the usual standards. The team looks miles better than it did a couple of days ago and Arteta should give us something we needed and Santos might offer something we haven't had in a long time. Looking forward to seeing the new look in action.

Oh, agree with everyone else about RVP cover though...

[Guest]

He'll be like a new Marouane Chamakh. He doesn't fit into the way Wenger plays.

I dunno, he's been used to losing games with Sunderland.

What a window! Wenger bought some players who weren't under 20! AMAZING!

He'll be at home tonight on three bottles of red while stroking his picture of Henry lovingly, casting sad eyes over it...and he might even get the Anelka figurine out of the bottom draw and stab it with a compass for a bit, before falling asleep on his desk. Woken by the cleaner next morning; she's 8.

[TehStu]

Ha ha, yes. And the receptionist is a fetus.

[humdrum]

the thing about buying the likes of the players you mentioned is they are in teams that don't need to sell. so selling a prized asset on deadline day when they have no time to find a replacement isn't going to happen often.

OK that's mainly going to be down to us not making offers earlier in the transfer window. but not having qualified for the champions league proper i think played a big part in that, along with the hope of actually keeping cesc/nasri.

[The Fox]

I dunno, he's been used to losing games with Sunderland.

What a window! Wenger bought some players who weren't under 20! AMAZING!

He'll be at home tonight on three bottles of red while stroking his picture of Henry lovingly, casting sad eyes over it...and he might even get the Anelka figurine out of the bottom draw and stab it with a compass for a bit, before falling asleep on his desk. Woken by the cleaner next morning; she's 8.

Please don't try and do comedy. It's not working.

[toythatkills]

I think there are a few people in here that will find this text to the BBC funny. Or infuriating. Or a little of both.

From Daniel, a Magpies fan in Newcastle, via text: "How has it taken us eight months to NOT find a replacement for Carroll, but Arsenal, Chelsea and Stoke can sign people within hours. Oh that's it - they have people at the top who want success not just a profit!"

[Rev]

Please don't try and do comedy. It's not working.

Sure, I didn't laugh at that one...But all of his others I laugh at. Well you've got to. If you don't laugh, you throw yourself off a tower block due to the failure of the noble experiment which is/was humanity.

[hercules]

I´m on holiday now so missed allthe craziness that happened last night. I´ve just got on the computer to see what has happened and i´m amazed! I can´t believe we even got Arteta right at the death but i am so happy now, our squad looks alot stronger and we have bought experience and EPL experience. Things are looking up!

[Silent Runner]

I´m on holiday now so missed allthe craziness that happened last night. I´ve just got on the computer to see what has happened and i´m amazed! I can´t believe we even got Arteta right at the death but i am so happy now, our squad looks alot stronger and we have bought experience and EPL experience. Things are looking up!

In fairness things can only improve after the past few weeks (years! LOL) we’ve had. But yesterday was a good day and an acknowledgement from AW that his experiment has not worked out – which is kind of sad. I’m looking forward to this season now.

[Art Vandelay]

I think the only thing that has annoyed me is that I don't think we would have had any issues at all in getting these players right at the start of the summer. It's probably only Arteta that would have been a bit more difficult, but there you go. If we can limp through the international break without picking up a load more injuries I can actually look forward to games again because we've got players. Loads of 'em.

[Daley]

I'm actually looking forward to the Swansea game too.

On another note, the protest and billboard is going to seem slightly out of date. Agree or disagree with the players that were bought and forgetting for a moment we raised a shit load from players sales (again), we have spent over £50m on players.

It's time to get behind the team and give the new players a chance.

[SMD]

[toythatkills]

Allegedly, but has anyone seen or heard from Almunia in the last few months? I think he's locked in a cupboard somewhere.

[tyler]

I think the only thing that has annoyed me is that I don't think we would have had any issues at all in getting these players right at the start of the summer.

How much was a reaction to the weekend though? You'd like to think not but it's been very out of character for Wenger.

[Guest]

Allegedly, but has anyone seen or heard from Almunia in the last few months? I think he's locked in a cupboard somewhere.

In his head he's always locked in a cupboard...

[Rev]

It's time to get behind the team and give the new players a chance.

I can't say that a marquee signing would have made us Man City and it would have helped everything from morale to shirt sales (unless it tanked) but it's been a better transfer window than we've had in years as far as players in goes. But deciding that The Experiment was a failure makes the (essentially) firing of Pires et al even more depressing. And as much as the "damages development of youth" got a bit boring, it is a slight concern if future windows go the same way.

Not sure what my feelings are really, but it's definitely not a time for protesting.

[Daley]

I can't say that a marquee signing would have made us Man City and it would have helped everything from morale to shirt sales (unless it tanked) but it's been a better transfer window than we've had in years as far as players in goes. But deciding that The Experiment was a failure makes the (essentially) firing of Pires et al even more depressing. And as much as the "damages development of youth" got a bit boring, it is a slight concern if future windows go the same way.

Not sure what my feelings are really, but it's definitely not a time for protesting.

It is sad to look back and see that Vieria, Pires and a few others could have finished their careers here and made things even easier for the young players but I guess (hope?) we did what we had to do at the time to ease the stadium move, the same reason we have horrendously bad long term commercial contracts (read today Man Utd earn £50m more than us a season from commercial revenue).

The hope is that as payments ease stadium wise in the future, commercial deals come up for renewal and more deadwood on large wages are offloaded, this won't be the last window where we will be busy. We cannot compete with Man City and Chelsea (we spent about £10m more on 9 players than City did on Aguero) but at times recently it seemed that we weren't even spending the money we did have.

[AlwaysBeClosing]

http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/172773/first-team/arsenal-v-shrewsbury?tab=tickets

Cheap Carling Cup tickets soon.

[Rev]

It is sad to look back and see that Vieria, Pires and a few others could have finished their careers here and made things even easier for the young players but I guess (hope?) we did what we had to do at the time to ease the stadium move

It's always looked like a philosophy based decision to me, but who knows. Maybe you're right.

Not really the time to worry about it now though. For now we've all got to cross our fingers there are still Sunderland season tickets available.

[Daley]

It's always looked like a philosophy based decision to me, but who knows. Maybe you're right.

Not really the time to worry about it now though. For now we've all got to cross our fingers there are still Sunderland season tickets available.

Imagine, a few years ago you could have watched Him and Cana in the same side.

[Art Vandelay]

The thing is though, as encouraging as the signings we've made are, the same issues still exist today as did the start of yesterday - we still had roughly a negative net spend and have probably reduced our wage bill, or at the very least kept it the same. I think the signings we've made are positive ones and largely incredibly shrewd, however if people would still like to protest and enquire where their money is going they have every right as far as I'm concerned. Just so long as it's not aimed at the team and at the board I have no issue whatsoever.

[Daley]

The thing is though, as encouraging as the signings we've made are, the same issues still exist today as did the start of yesterday - we still had roughly a negative net spend and have probably reduced our wage bill, or at the very least kept it the same. I think the signings we've made are positive ones and largely incredibly shrewd, however if people would still like to protest and enquire where their money is going they have every right as far as I'm concerned. Just so long as it's not aimed at the team and at the board I have no issue whatsoever.

Oh yea I mean people are totally entitled to protest if they want to. But the cries of "spend some fucking money" will be a bit hollow now he has...well...spent some fucking money. Sure we are still up on the summer I guess. And that seems strange and questions need to be asked where that is plus the money from last year and the rest we had. Was the stadium move dependant on income from transfers supporting the club? If so we have been lied to. The accounts show cash available. Why did he wait until August 31st to splash out? There are questions to be asked, and I hope for signings in Januray (yes I know) but for now, this has dampened my fury.

[Dude Ranch]

if people would still like to protest and enquire where their money is going they have every right as far as I'm concerned. Just so long as it's not aimed at the team and at the board I have no issue whatsoever.

I would hate to think that the new players, let alone the existing ones, will arrive at a vicious and fuming Emirates for their first match. Any protest must be clearly but subtly made IMO.

[Guest]

I hope Mertersacker is the rock I expect. It would be great if Arsenal could get back to being a solid unit with some great passing football to boot. I've missed that of late. Certainly at their best Arsenal are my favourite team to watch*. Hoping Arteta can bring some steel and experience to that midfield, while ze big German bosses everyone else about.

*of course I meant second favourite/other before you report this post to the mods

[Guest]

Here's something to note:

Per Mertesacker- Werder Bremen to Arsenal

The third Arsenal player to feature in this list, has Wenger finally got the message that experience must be combined with youth? It would appear so. The 8-2 defeat to Man United could be looked back on as a watershed moment for the Gunners. Mertesacker brings with him 75 international caps, and helped keep Wayne Rooney quiet at the last World Cup. How Arsenal could have done with his help on Sunday...

The real reason behind the purchase perhaps?!