What do...

...new Arsenal signings Arteta, Benayoun, Mertesacker, Santos and Park have in common? They joined after Demolition Day and missed out on the 8-2 mauling and will not need psychological treatment. The most embarrassing day in the clubs history will not be forgotten soon... but after watching the recent capitulations to Spurs, Liverpool and Newcastle, a good hammering was always inevitable.

The conspiracy theorists say Wenger played a weak team against Man U to force the board into spending some money. What has been difficult to fathom is the media silence by Stan Kroenke, majority owner whose sightings are as scarce as Big Foot.

The hope is that these experienced acquisitions will paper over the deficiencies of Djourou, Koscielny, Traore etc. One can only hope... and maybe some competition will revive the career of the lard-arsed Russian, Arshavin.

Gervinho shows promise and might well be better than Nasri. Fabregas is one of a kind, but there is the chance that Jack Wilshere will step into Cesc's role and perhaps flourish. The next few months will be interesting at The Arsenal.