We will still be a striker short though if this Higuain deal goes through. We still need a CB too.

Good point. We'll still be a striker short so need Giroud AS WELL as Higuain really

As a neutral, if you could get Higuain it's certainly a step up from what you've had in the last 5+ years IMO.

Juventus are looking to raise the €94m to meet his release clause though. If that happens then there's nothing Napoli can do to stop him joining Juventus if that's what he wants.

No matter what he does, Wenger will never win in some people's eyes.

To them he'll either not sign enough, or if he signs a few it will smack of desperation.

I guess some people just like a good moan.

The weaknesses in the squad that need to be addressed are obvious.
Surely even you can spot them?

In the meantime, that lot up the road have made their third signing of the summer.

I don't see the Higuain deal happening somehow. He's older and more expensive than he was four years ago when we could have got him.

I don't see it either and think the money, up to £80m is too much.
Amazed as an outsider that you guys have not yet made some big signings... I feel your frustrations now.

It is a lot of money for a 29yr old. Very poor value for money. Not really one for the future either.

It's not a Wenger signing.

It's annoying as for years we put up with waiting for the Champions League to be guaranteed before the purchases and now it's guaranteed, nothing happens.

It works for me!

I think we need a goalkeeper, and a CH / utility defender. We've probably got enough now in C/DM with the signing of Xhaka, as Cazorla or Ramsey can also cover there if necessary. We have a fair few attacking midfield players (Cazorla, Ozil, Ramsey, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Reine-Adelaide) , so have to decide who to ship out if we are to bring anyone into that area. I think we need to sign a striker, although again, we already have a fair few fighting for those/that position(s) (Sanchez, Giroud, Welbeck, Walcott, Iwobi, Akpom).

So three more players needed IMO. That would give is a squad of 27 if nobody else leaves.

Agree, 3 more is needed assuming noone else leaves. We need these to be quality though in order to challenge meaningfully. Not too bothered about another goalie, would prefer to have a quality DM (Kante would have done nicely, but would be happy with Carvalho or Bazoer), CD and striker.

Wouldn't argue too much with most of that. Jack, Ox, Theo, Wellbeck and Cazorla, How long they can stay fit and be available. That's been a big part of the problem in recent seasons.

Apparently we offered 2million for Bolton defender Rob Holding, who was their player of the year last season.

Young player. One for the future I think.

I'm perturbed by these Bellerin stories.

Bellerin rumours have been doing the rounds for some time. He doesn't exactly seem to be denying it himself either.

I think we might need more than that in the striking department. Giroud and Sanchez are a given (although I have a feeling the Sanchez being unsettled rumours might also have an element of truth) but beyond that? Welbeck is likely to be missing for the vast majority (if not all) of the coming season and Walcott has already shown on numerous occasions that he simply isn't good enough to play as a striker. As much promise and potential as Iwobi and Akpom have they are unproven at this level and lack experience.

Given our continuing appalling record of injuries I think we need two, one of whom really does have to be world class. I have a feeling Arsene will see things more from your point of view though so we can only hope whoever he finds really is of the necessary quality.

Walcott really needs to leave- he symbolises all that is wrong with Wenger's modern day Arsenal teams.

I agree that Walcott has to go. I'd sell Oxlade Chamberlain too. Both are far too inconsistent, and Ox is far too injury-prone.

Totally agree, continually underperforms and has never fulfilled his potential.

I do however think that if he were to go to Liverpool he would flourish under Klopp who is a great man manager.

I agree but I have a feeling he is another example of how dysfunctional our club has become. He has been rewarded with such crazily high wages (way above what he is worth as a player) that mean any new club isn't going to be willing to match them. As a result he doesn't want to move. I suspect we will probably end up stuck with him until his contract runs down ... at which point Wenger will probably reward him with a new one simply because it's easier than having to find or spend on a new player.

So bloody what. 3 Years ago they made about 12 more signings than us. Fat lot of good it done them.

agree 100%.
stories about Higuian are daft. Only Atletico Madrid have made a bid for him and that was 60m+ players and was rejected.
Icardi quoted as saying he's staying at Inter.
Wenger probably about to sign a new contract for himself.
No other signings of world class players unless a club lets someone go in the August trolley dash and no-one else comes in (the Ozil/Sanchez model). I believe Wenger thinks the squad's just fine as it is.

I think Wenger knows full well the squad is weak. We can argue whether Vardy would have been the right or wrong choice but for Wenger to offer the amount that he did must mean he accepts the need for more striking options at the very least. Given his track record that sort of deal isn't the sort of thing he does lightly.

To my mind the mystery is why, when things go against him, he is unable or unwilling to react quickly. Vardy turned him down early enough for a quality replacement to have been found but so far ... nothing! As you say, at the moment I see no other outcome than last minute panic buys ... yet again paying over the odds for the wrong players.

I have no idea who our forwards will be for the opening game. Giroud doesn't report back for pre-season until the week before and who knows how fit Sanchez will be given the ankle injury he suffered in the Copa America. Welbeck is out so prepare for the new season to be started with Walcott leading the line.

It's absolutely unacceptable but, this time, I think the crowd aren't going to give him any room for excuses. I've said this enough now but I think things might go very badly wrong for Arsene this season especially given the very real quality the other clubs are managing quite successfully to recruit.

Things are wrong at the club and the players know it. The unsettled rumours surrounding Bellerin and Sanchez are warning enough and I doubt Ozil will be in a hurry to sign a new deal either. Neither us nor the media really know what's going on but when those closely involved start to get unhappy then the writing is on the wall.