Out of the blue Arsenal snapped up the experienced Brazilian International from Turkish side Fenerbahçe in which is played 52 times scoring 10 goals. A strike rate that Emile Heskey would be proud of. At just over £6m he looks like a bargain. Santos looks like a powerful, yet very skilful wide player who will probably enjoy bombing forward down the Emirates turf. When Gael Clichy was at Arsenal, we usually had Sagna pushing forward to provide the width and crossing while Clichy stayed

So the deadline madness is finally over, we can put our phone’s down, shut down the BBC news feeds and get back to our lives. I do not need to go over how difficult this transfer window has been. Losing Cesc Fabregas was bad enough without also losing Samir Nasri. Arsenal fans were at an all time low after a weak Arsenal squad was severely crushed at Old Trafford.

But then out of the blue, Arsene flipped on his cape, whipped out his magic cheque book and a spending spree ensued. We can all ask the question, why has it taken this long to get our deals done? but the answers to those questions are not readily available and are only subjective to supporters. What we can do now is look forward and hope our next players can gel quickly and show their full potential under a manager who will allow them to express themselves.

Park Chu-Young

First on Arsene’s list was Nicklas Bendtner’s replacement, Park Chu-Young. The South Korean captain was allegedly in a Lille hotel waiting to have a second medical before Arsene Wenger worked his magic and turned the players head.

Shortly after he was proving to the Arsenal medical team that he was fit enough to sign for Arsenal football club. The 26 year old was signed for a unbelievably low fee of £2.7m. It turns out that he will be heading back to Korea for military service in 2013.

JY Park has quality from dead balls which has been missed, he is a good link up player who has the technical quality to fit into our squad. I don’t quite know how much of a threat he is to Van Persie’s place in the team and with Chamakh being out of form, much of our striking responsibility still seems to be heavily placed on our captain’s shoulders. So let us hope he can stay fit and rotate well with Park and Chamakh.

Andre Dos Santos

Our weakness at left back was evident at Old Trafford. Kieran Gibbs who I believe is ready to be a big player this season will not be able to prove that if he continues to spend half the season on the treatment table. Armand Traore was woefully short on the weekend and Arsene needed to add quality to that area as soon as possible. We had spent the summer expecting Luis Enrique to walk through the gates until he vanished into a Mersyside shaped hole.

Out of the blue Arsenal snapped up the experienced Brazilian International from Turkish side Fenerbahçe in which is played 52 times scoring 10 goals. A strike rate that Emile Heskey would be proud of. At just over £6m he looks like a bargain. Santos looks like a powerful, yet very skilful wide player who will probably enjoy bombing forward down the Emirates turf. When Gael Clichy was at Arsenal, we usually had Sagna pushing forward to provide the width and crossing while Clichy stayed back. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a switch in that tactic with Sagna holding fire and Santos being allowed to join Gervinho down the left.

Per Mertesacker

While the tabloids were repeating the same old Chris Samba, Gary Cahill and Scott Dann’s of this world, Arsene had other ideas, he said he was popping off for a packet of crisps and came back with a Mertesacker in his back pack.

The German International is well known around the world and has collected 74 full caps along the way. 51 More than the combined total of 23 from Cahill (3), Samba (20) and Dann (0)

The 6.6ft German won a gargantuan 74% of his aerial duel’s last season so let us see what Stoke City’s Peter Crouch can do against that. Along with our strong set piece organisation (first choice back four at least) I think we should be ok from set pieces from now on.

Yossi Benayoun

The news of our interest in the Israel International was not greatly received on Twitter but I must say I have always been an admirer of the talented midfielder since his days at West Ham. He has suffered with injuries so we have captured the player on loan.

Premier League experienced, technically very good. Dribbles well, scores goals and makes assists. No Cesc but a terrific squad player.

Mikel Arteta

This was like Andrey Arshavin all over again. The deal was on, then off and then in the final stages as the window was close to shutting, he lowered his wage demands and signed for the Gunners.

I have always been a huge admirer of the player who has consistently been Everton’s main creative passer from midfield. He is an absolute bargain at £10m and should fit straight into the Arsenal team. It would be easy to think that he will replace Cesc in that creative role but he has always struck me as a deeper midfielder. More of a Jack Wilshere position than behind the attack. I wonder if Wenger will push Jack Wilshere forward this season and Arteta/Benayoun/Diaby/Ramsey will play in the box to box position alongside Song/Frimpong.

Like Park Chu Young, we have another player who can deliver from dead balls, both from crosses or from direct strikes on goal. He is an excellent addition to the squad and fingers crossed he hits the ground running.

Other Players In

Gervinho, Jenkinson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joel Campbell (Loaned out),

Players Out

Cesc, Nasri, Clichy, Traore, Eboue, Denilson (Loan), Bendtner (Loan)

Conclusion

Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis has promised that it would be a very active summer and while a little late in the day, they have certainly kept there word. The squad looks stronger overall although I really wanted one super super quality midfielder to come in for Cesc Fabregas but that did not materialise. Cesc’s strengths will have to be shared between the team and I think we will play a slightly different and more direct way with the players we have.

Whatever you think of the board, the manager, the players gone, the players arriving we should now draw a line underneath a rather stressful summer and focus on what is important. The team. There is a fresh feel to this squad which is very exciting. Not only do we have new signings but we have players like Frimpong, Ryo and Afobe breaking into the first team. It is time to back the squad we have and see how far they can take us.