Stay on target

OK, a rambling piece for the gooners this one: transfer targets for the summer. Let's assume that Arsene is plotting away at the moment almost ready to pounce on a couple of top class players. I'm going to ignore all the ridiculous media speculation; football sells newspapers, during the summer there are no games (stats show that fellas buy more newspapers if their team has won) so the hacks have to come up with ever-elaborate stories that are more sensational then their rivals.

I think part of the reason we haven't bought yet is the fact that the Spanish season has only just finished. Wenger has to sort out the Reyes situation ad get some cash in the bank; Reyes has a few years left on his contract so you'd assume we'd get at lease £10m for the mutha. Also going out the door is Flamini, say for£5m? Add that to the supposed £40m loan the board have negotiated and you're looking at a £55m kitty, that's a lot of benjamins. OK, perhaps that's a wee bit optimistic, but that's just the way I am.

Where do we need strengthening? Well, I'd say an experienced centre back, a winger and maybe a forward. We have phenomenal strength up front with Henry (who had some pictures taken with a lovely lady yesterday at an Arsenal event), RvP and an ever improving Adebayor, but we've lost Baptista and Aliadiere. Will Wenger want to play Walcott up front this year or will he be limited to the right?

Anyhoo, I know the transfer game; I've played Championship manager (although success on CM is no guarantee of glory in real life, just look at Tonton Zola Moukoko - who is now playing for IK Sleipner in Sweden.). Every top manager in Europe is flirting with clubs left, right and centre. When the market is as competitive as it is in June and July, being first to approach a player is a huge advantage. I'm sure le boss will have been hard at work for months wooing targets as he is the master salesman. Mr Wenger always keeps his cards close to his chest and we rarely hear of any purchases until they're pretty much done and dusted so we could be in for some news any day now (OK, maybe not that soon...).

So don't be downhearted, things will pick up soon, the papers will continue to spout garbage for the foreseeable future so have a good laugh at them and don't worry too much (that means you Rich).