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Enter Mesut Ozil. The German national team's technically gifted playmaker and the world's best number 10 according to the Special One. A player quite surprisingly deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid, simply because of the shed load of cash Los Blancos were prepared to spend on Galactico-in-waiting Gareth Bale. It is ironic that Spurs best player securing a spot at Madrid enabled Wenger to finally splash the cash with an almost Ivana Trump style abandon.The moment Ronaldo’s No.1 fan secured his dream move; it was on like Donkey Kong for Arsenal, with transfer drama more fraught than an Eastenders Christmas special.Twitter was in a frenzied state along with Sky Sports News and their deadline day hosts trending nationally and worldwide.  Shouty gob-almighty Jim White dedicated more time than usual to AFC deals.

First a fee was agreed (not a formal bid, a discussion of a fee) by Real Madrid and Arsenal for Di Maria, leaving AFC only to convince the player. This was much earlier than last week as reported. Despite his departure looking likely, the Argentinian continued to stress his desire to stay and do anything on the pitch. This is also the company line being assimilated by Modric, and the rest of the players that understood that Bale’s arrival meant ever shifting formations to find the correct balance. Özil by contrast made it very clear that he had proven his worth and that he wanted to play his position behind the striker as he always had. New manager Ancelotti was none too impressed with this as he saw a need to interchange all the attacking players to different positions.  Di Maria

We’ve lost a match winner.  Bale scored 26 goals last season and there were some absolutely some crucial ones, such as his last minute winner at West Ham. We were dubbed as a “one-man” side and now we have word-class strength and depth in the additions which Levy, Baldini and AVB have made to the Spurs ranks since the end of the last campaign. It’s an exciting time to be a Spurs fans, but we cannot sit back on our laurels.  The new arrivals have to ‘gel’ immediately and fill the void which Bale will leave.

You need the financial platform in order to create the sporting success, but you need the sporting success in order to supply the financial platform as well. This year we are beginning to see something we have been planning for some time, which is the escalation in our financial firepower. Our revenues will grow to put us into the top five revenue clubs in the world”, The Champions League qualifier in August won’t affect our plans. It’s never been an issue when we’ve discussed with players before and it doesn’t affect our planning. [With FFP] “football is moving powerfully in our direction

I wonder whether that sensation of an ‘anti-Arsenal media’ is less down to Spurs and Man U supporting producers and editors (as the conspiracy theorists always tell us) and more down to the simple fact that the media is full of pundits and journalists who worship at the altar of old-fashioned English footballing values, seemingly oblivious that they are exactly the values that hold us back. Wenger, by bemoaning dangerous, ‘tough’ tackling, by prizing technique over power, by taking an educated, cosmopolitan attitude to football, represents everything that they have been taught to hate, but everything that we need to embrace if we are to win a major tournament

give me Suarez, Fellaini and Fabregas and I’ll be content.” In the same way I used to say, “I want a Ferrari 360, but I want to retro-fit the bonnet with pop-up flame throwers and a roof-mounted water cannon to cut through crowds. I’ve always been practical like that.” This summer you can’t tell me it’s not gone outlandish. And there’s only one person to blame. OK then, Ivan what was the deal? When it comes to arrivals we’ve been getting by on sausages just fine lately – high-quality Toulouse sausages

Thus far this summer, the only addition is Sanogo, a talented U20 French NT forward. Despite this sole addition, one should also look at key departures; Squillaci, Santos, Djourou, Denilson, etc. A whole list of players that have clogged up the books for some time are now gone, with a few more to follow. This shows you that the club is undergoing a “trimming of the fat” that was much needed but also paramount so that big signings could take place.

Arsenal or Arsene or Ivan as well where the selling club can change its mind at the last minute and decide "Ok, we want more money" or the same can be done by a player or his agent and things can go back to negotiations. Sometimes clubs care about perception and PR so they can stall and sit on a move that is outgoing until they can secure someone or just appear like they've been strong enough to delay something inevitable. All of these factors add to the perception and this little video of Tim Payton

Everyone was going mental last summer and in January, calling for us to sign a proper defensive midfielder. We didn’t. Maybe Coquelin was earmarked as that man, or maybe Wenger just didn’t feel we needed one. I do feel we need little bit steel in the middle of the park though, and would like to see us bring in a proper midfield presence, whether he’s an all-out defensive midfielder or not. Fellaini would be great, but I assume he’ll be following Moyes to United. Playmaker-wise

None of these things are allowed. You, Arsenal supporter, MUST choose sides and battle it out! There is no room for intelligent discussion on the subject. Even if you make a rational argument, the detractors on either side will take one fact from your argument that may be incorrect (opinion) and beat it to death to prove their “point”.