I would think that this is Arsene’s highest profile signing in his Arsenal career. The closest to this is probably Sol Campbell and perhaps Davor Suker

Well thank goodness for that. Only this bloody transfer could still be dragged on after the window closed.

I don’t even think this was just Arsenal’s longest drawn out transfer saga but probably the longest thing (as in anything) to have reached a convulsion.

We have at long last signed Andrei Arshavin. I just wish I could go back in the past and tell myself this as I kept waxing lyrical about him on almost a daily basis.

I have to hold my hands up and admit that Sky Sports News was on in my house for most of the day and that is not a good thing. Infact I think I may actually be a little mentally and emotionally scarred from it.

One of the Sky Sports ‘reporters’ kept saying

Arsenal have agreed a deal with Zenit

Arsh-shaven has agreed terms with Arsenal

He has passed his medical

The only issue is… blah blah

I must have heard those few lines about 150 times and it was hurting my head. Why didn’t you turn it off? I hear you ask. I tried to , but I ended up wondering what was going on which resulted in turning it back on again.

I think Sky Sports News on deadline days should be moved to Class A, it is not healthy.

Sorry, but I refuse to go into detail about how the transfer unfolded, that would just make my brain hurt and I could do without that really.

Ok, need to get that out of my system and talk about the man who will be called upon to make the difference. He will bring something that we have missed in a long while. The ability to carry the ball at pace and commit people. This is so cliche but he is the type to get bums off seats! haha, first and last time I use that.

It hasn’t been confirmed as yet but it sounds as if all the correct documents are in place. Arsene sounded very confident about it also so you can only assume that it is only a matter of time.

I would think that this is Arsene’s highest profile signing in his Arsenal career. The closest to this is probably Sol Campbell and perhaps Davor Suker.

Arsenal fans will have to be patient (it’ll be a first) because I do not think he will hit the ground running especially as he isn’t currently playing every week due to the Russian league being over. We could see him make a few cameos from the bench before he starts unless he is instantly breathtaking in training.

I guess the questions are where will he play? Who will he replace? We need to be more fluid between midfield and attack because it seems like we lose the impetus when we get into the final third. I can only assume that he will play out wide and the left side would probably suit him more but having said that Nasri is better suited there also. I wonder what Nasri could do in central midfield, although that position may be a little too defensive for him. When we do not have the ball I am not sure that Nasri could get through the work that Cesc does.

Maybe when Arshavin starts we could see Nasri Denilson Song Arshavin until our injured players start coming back.

Former manager Dick Advocaat seems to think that Arsenal have got a great bargain on their hands, I guess he would know more than most.

“Arsenal don’t realise just how good a player Arshavin is,” Advocaat told The Daily Mirror.

“He’ll be a sensation. He’s worth more than they have paid.”

Only time will tell ol Dutch chap, only time will tell.

There was some confusion over his shirt number. It first came through that he will take Alex Hleb’s old number 13 but he has confirmed on his own personal site that he will wear the number 23 which for some reason sits with me quite well. Yup, I have shirt number issues.

Arshavin said:

“I think [I am an Arsenal player],” the former Zenit hotshot is quoted as saying.

“The negotiations came to a close and the details will be revealed today. Now I can only say one thing: if I were to play for Arsenal then I would wear the number 23,”

One more positive about the transfer window is that Aston Villa have not added very much to their squad which is a good thing.

Before I go, I want to thank Passenal (poster) for knocking some sense into me. I suggested that the game was called off due to snow on the pitch. Ah, maybe it has a little something to do with the lack of public transport. I blame Sky Sports News for damaging my brain.

Back again tomorrow.

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