Who Should Be Arsenal's Last Signing?

Arsene Wenger is a man of many strata. He is as set in his ways as they come in modern management, far from easily pleased and seemingly oblivious to the aspirations of the fans. A great manager though he may be, he rarely takes the direction anybody is expecting, or hoping he will. This is as much to his credit as it is his and the club's detriment, as often his unwavering inflexibility has ultimately cost the Gunners at crucial moments over the years. Fans have time and time again reminded the world that Arsene knows, but as the club continues to fall short on all fronts, even the most loyal of Arsenists are struggling to hold a candle to their most beloved boss.

This summer's transfer dealings thus far have left many supporters feeling increasingly inferior to league rivals Manchester United and Chelsea. Even Liverpool are taking steps, though small and typically thrifty, in the right direction. The Gunners have lost no less than three midfielders so far this summer and Emmanuel Adebayor's future has still not been categorically classified by the player himself. Wenger is confident he is staying, but his stance regarding the Togonator is eerily similar to that he had to Aliaksandr Hleb, who officially signed for Barcelona last week.

As it stands, Arsenal are currently worse off than they were at the end of the season. With Gilberto Silva, Aliaksandr Hleb and Mathieu Flamini out and Carlos Vela (recalled from loan), Aaron Ramsey and Samir Nasri in, it is, as it so often tends to be, a case of out with the old and in with the new for the Wenger boys. The talent and potential of Vela and Nasri in particular is undisputed, but a sizeable chunk of the side's steel has been removed due to the loss of Flamini and Gilberto. The Brazilian looked a shadow of his former self last season when given intermittent opportunities to start successive games; it was almost as if Flamini's emergence came at his expense and gravely affected his confidence. A move was certainly best for him, and Nasri could prove a superb successor to Hleb, but it is the loss of the 24-year-old Frenchman that has not yet been accommodated for. Aaron Ramsey is of a different mould entirely, and was not even playing regularly for Cardiff City, so the notion of him doing so in the top flight is highly unlikely.