Lots of clubs, big and small do their business in the final week. It's pretty normal.

That's not what I have personally observed, both at the stadium and on TV. The numbers, from what I saw, were much, much lower.

Whatever the truth, you don't think another disaster of a transfer window combined with some really good big name purchases from all of our closest competitors is going to have helped the situation do you?

We simply don't have the squad to compete. We are going to have a long hard season ahead of us and more of the crowd will turn after every bad game.

There are 26 days of the window left.

the only proven striker left for sale is Milan's (ex Sevilla) Carlos Bacca. He would apparently prefer a CL team to West Ham. He's 29, quick, goal poacher, good if not world class. Decent goal scoring record in la Liga and Serie A. Bilic thinks he's good enough.
29 is the same age as Vardy. He'd be about £20m. Of course, this is all academic.

Dithering over Mustafi will inevitably mean we don't get him. Chelsea are in for him, which must probably/hopefully mean that Juventus/Bonucci has told Conte he's not going anywhere.
Interesting to see Koscielny playing so well on the 'wrong' CB side in the Euros, to accommodate the left footed Umtiti. In theory, this gives Wenger more flexibility on who to sign at CB. But CB signings at Arsenal have often been spectacularly awful.

With Wenger it depends on the first game.
Lose it, he goes out & spends.
Win or draw, he stays with the same team as they have the mental strength to get through the season.

Arsenal match live on ITV4 now

Good header from Elneny, Campell's goal

Some good stuff played. Great strike by cazorla, and walnut scored a decent striker's goal in a few minutes. 4-0 now, OG after good work/cross by campbell.

Personally I don't really care to much about transfers, don't get me wrong it would be good for us to add to the positions which clearly need strengthening but I've believed since about 2011 signings are not the root of the problem. Tactics, organisation and the psychology of the players are where our true weaknesses lie and that responsibility is on the manager and the coaching staff.

Despite there being players in the team I don't rate, overall my belief is plenty of managers would look at this squad as it is now and see our best players with a belief that despite the weak links there had a good chance of challenging for the title and having a respectable European campaign. You look at someone like Diego Simeone, not always having the best team but getting them performing, exceeding expectations in terms of their ability.

Still not sure who is going to improve us in Europe, 10 goals conceded in our first four games last season, as previously mentioned this squad’s not perfect but it’s better than that.

Turning into a rout.

Why do I get the feeling AW will look at this and use it to say we dont need a striker?

Great strike by Cazorla
Edit: It's 5! Campbell again

We'll def won't be buying anyone now

Have to admit feeling sorry for this Viking team. I know it's only a friendly but 8-0 is a damn good thrashing. We seemed to be a bit more direct and taking shots on instead of passing it a thousand times.

No need for a striker.

Pundit on ITV4 was just asked about Mahrez and said "He could add 15 goals a season", I dont think we've even bid for him have we? (If we're interested).

Latest rumours are he is staying at Leicester.

TBH I am not really sure we need Mahrez. We are plentiful in the skilled midflelders with Ozil, Cazorla and Ox (if he can finally get his act together). I wouldn't be disappointed if he did arrive but just think we need to look at other areas first. It sounds like he's staying put anyway so that's that.

I thought that as well, fair enough I guess

Good performance yesterday, but against a team clearly lacking in quality. It will be interesting to see how we fare against City tomorrow.

Wellbeck's apparently had or is having an operation on his knee. Won't be seeing him for a while...

Is this additional treatment then? I thought he'd already had an operation?

Heads up Arsenal v Man City ITV @5.45

Play OK football, create plenty of chances to score, do f all...........defenders mess up at the back, concede.

Welcome back Arsenal.

I fear the worst if Gabriel starts against Liverpool.