So, the madness that is the transfer window has finished for another season, but the ramifications of this one may be felt for some time to come.

Firstly, the fact that Torres joins a Chelsea side who still have to play Man United twice could go a long way in helping us win the league. Thanks Roman, money well spent. Add to that Carroll’s over-inflated fee of £35m which seems like great business now, but will it seem that way if Newcastle are relegated as they cannot replace his match-winning goals?

Only time will tell.

Of course, as expected, there was no movement at Arsenal save for a few youngsters going on loan or changing loans.

It astounds me that so called experts are criticising Wenger for his transfer activities or lack off. Over the past few years we have been told that it would be Arsenal who drop out of the top four, it was Liverpool. We’ve been told we can’t keep Cesc when we did and Liverpool lost Torres, while Man United lost Ronaldo, Tevez and almost Rooney. We were told if we didn’t spend we would slide down the league, well we didn’t and look where we are now, Liverpool did and look at them, and still with no stadium any closer to being built.

The only thing splashing the cash around does is ensure that one day you have to pay the bill.

It was Man United who had to pay their own player a load more to keep them, not Arsenal. It was Chelsea that had to break the UK transfer record to try and keep their place in the top four, not us, even when crippled with injuries last season.

Does Wenger get any credit for this?

If Wenger said there was no-one available who  would fit into our team, then I believe him. I don’t believe he refused to look as some have said (but couldn’t possibly know), I don’t believe it is a tightness or a stinginess or any of the accusations levelled at him. To simply say ‘Wenger won’t spend’ is too easy, it doesn’t take into consideration all the other factors which come in to play when you want to sign a player – does he want to move, will he be allowed to leave, can he handle the premier league, can he fit our system, will he add to our team, will he demand ridiculous money, is he fit enough, what’s his attitude like, the list is extensive. It’s not just about one man and his purse-strings, no matter what people will have you believe.

Pah, it’s a long discussion for day when we don’t have a match.

So, a Pienaar-less Everton this evening and we all remember what happened when we played them at the Emirates last season. Most people who were there froze in the ground, many didn’t make it as their flights were stranded, and I ended up stuck in Belfast with a chest infection when I was supposed to be at the game. It finished 2-2 and a combination of awful defending, poor finishing, Pienaar lobbing and Almunia sitting down meant we only came away from this game with a point.

Don’t believe me? Watch this (around the 14min mark watch as he makes himself as small as possible)

Arsenal v Everton
Uploaded by timbro911. – Check out more sports and extreme sports videos.

This season we should not be happy with that at all (the performance of certain players or the point).

Ok, so the team only played 48 hours ago but most of the personnel will be different so tiredness cannot be an excuse. If we are to maintain our delusions of becoming champions we simply must win our home games, and although we won in the FA Cup at the weekend, the manner of that victory was not-so-sweet.

Tonight though, we will have three quarters of Theo Van Nasregas back in action, and the only real question is who will stay in the side to replace the injured Nasri.

If I had to make a call, I’d say we will be lining up like this:

Chesney, Sagna, Kos, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Cesc, Jack, Theo, Van Persie, Arshavin.

Of course, Andrei worked his tiny little legs of only 48 hours ago so we might see Nik start in his place, or Rosicky, or even Diaby. You just wouldn’t know.

Did you know that we haven’t conceded a goal in the opening 15 minutes of a league match this season? Me either, and a nice stat that shows we start matches well and focused. What happens as the game wears on we can only guess.

100% for 90 plus injury. That’s Arsenal, that’s all.

Stats Stack – Arsenal v Everton.

Cap Comp League updated.

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