Winter Transfer Despair and Bafflement.

[AFC Leveller]

---------/Jack/Xhaka--------

Ozil-----------------Mkhi

------Auba---Laca---

Not bad tbh.

[Niall_Quinn]

We'll be saving a few million on the major trophies being won clause, probably knew that so fee is more like 53 million all in.

Reality is Aubameyang replaces Sanchez, so in that sense the team will be similar quality wise, we've just added Mkhitaryan in midfield, no sign of quality coming in in DM or CB though the area we've struggled in all season, so the reality is we won't be a lot stronger than we were before, especially given Aubameyang (if he signs) needs to get use to playing in the PL.

All this done possibly by selling players as well, everybody wins, club is happy because they haven't spent a penny and fans are happy, well because anything will keep them happy these days

Do you not get a hint from this that Wenger might be on the way out? Seems to me his role has been downsized and if he had been the only party in charge of this window we'd still be haggling with Dortmund in increments of £500. Getting this over the line when there was dispute on the final fee is the opposite of what has happened in the past. This could be progress, finally, with others gaining responsibility for the finances, contracts and negotiations while Wenger is left to ruin the team. Yes, I know the fact he remains in charge on match day is a severe problem, but there are cracks developing in his empire. This is a bigger plus than anything else. The first signs we might be waking up from this coma.

[Niall_Quinn]

Not too many obvious options though....

Who is the next Vieira at the moment?

That's what the new guys are here for. Identify the talent and bring it in. It's beyond the bounds of fantasy we'll sign anyone else this window, but the summer might be interesting. And it's been a while since we could say that.

I don't want to get carried away, this is like opening one eye just a touch, for a split second, to take a fleeting glance at what might, possibly, theoretically be hope. But it's step, in fact one giant leap for Arsenalkind.

[Özim]

Do you not get a hint from this that Wenger might be on the way out? Seems to me his role has been downsized and if he had been the only party in charge of this window we'd still be haggling with Dortmund in increments of £500. Getting this over the line when there was dispute on the final fee is the opposite of what has happened in the past. This could be progress, finally, with others gaining responsibility for the finances, contracts and negotiations while Wenger is left to ruin the team. Yes, I know the fact he remains in charge on match day is a severe problem, but there are cracks developing in his empire. This is a bigger plus than anything else. The first signs we might be waking up from this coma.

Not really no, I reckon he'll be around for a while yet, don't forget this is all money raised from players sales and removing player wages off the bill.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Don't get too happy....Evans might come in yet.

[Cripps]

Not too many obvious options though....

Who is the next Vieira at the moment?

Abou Diaby.

[Cripps]

Do you not get a hint from this that Wenger might be on the way out? Seems to me his role has been downsized and if he had been the only party in charge of this window we'd still be haggling with Dortmund in increments of £500. Getting this over the line when there was dispute on the final fee is the opposite of what has happened in the past. This could be progress, finally, with others gaining responsibility for the finances, contracts and negotiations while Wenger is left to ruin the team. Yes, I know the fact he remains in charge on match day is a severe problem, but there are cracks developing in his empire. This is a bigger plus than anything else. The first signs we might be waking up from this coma.

Sanllehi to come.

SAS

[Niall_Quinn]

Not really no, I reckon he'll be around for a while yet, don't forget this is all money raised from players sales and removing player wages off the bill.

But we aren't going to move from farce to perfection in a month. Previously there were no signs at all that any of the shit we've been seeing season after season was ever going to change. Now we have some key appointments in areas Wenger has been fucking up for years, and we've possibly/ probably seen the result of those appointments (almost - not quite there yet) bear results. And this indicates Wenger's power grip is loosening. Steps towards something, anything that's not what Wenger has subjected us to for a decade. Hints of realisation and change.

We now move into Catch 22 territory. If these new players help the team perform then Wenger's position is strengthened. If we win cups then he's definitely staying another year at least. If we qualify for the CL then the ultimate prize has been attained and we can have a bus parade. Any of these outcomes will probably mean we suffer Wenger for another season yet. But I don't think these new guys would be coming in at all if the long term future was Wenger. These are serious people with reputations, they wouldn't have signed up to be pawns in a game. There must be a plan in place and all indications point to it being a plan that involves Wenger either moving out or moving upstairs.

He's 155 years old FFS. He has to leave sometime.

[Niall_Quinn]

Don't get too happy....Evans might come in yet.

Provided Wenger sticks to his methods of refusing to train the defence, Evans will probably retain enough experience from sane coaches to provide a bit of help until he catches the defensive curse and transforms into a headless chicken. Better than seeing Merts on the pitch at least. Though a little imagination on a more suitable, longer term target wouldn't have hurt us.

[Globalgunner]

No, they are attacking players, not defenders.

Wenger may see them as defenders, you never know. Put Cech up front with Jack in goal.