Nice to have a bit of good news to talk about straight off the bat today, the signing of Chamakh. It has yet to be confirmed by the club itself, but Chamakhalaka Boom has himself said:
“I am delighted to join the English football atmosphere, it is something amazing. I love Arsenal’s game. I know I will have to adapt but I know the short passing game with Yoann Gourcuff. In February, I made my decision. A departure clause (in a potential new Bordeaux contract) was not logical after refusing Arsenal last summer. Arsenal were not alone. There were Liverpool,
Tottenham and crazy offers from Russia. But I was only focused on the Premier League…I am leaving for a new challenge. At Bordeaux I was the club’s child. In London, I won’t be a kid anymore. I have grown, I have things to prove and I am motivated to achieve it.”
Good to hear that he is up for a challenge and is motivated to do well. Let’s hope he can walk the walk as well as he talks the talk. Anyway, he can’t really contribute any less than the likes of Eduardo this season, so he can only strengthen us. Plus, he is coming on a free, which still leaves the majority of whatever transfer kitty Wenger has (minus Chamakh’s wages/signing on fee) to strengthen the defensive area of the squad.
Unfortunately, I don’t think one of those signings will be Buffon, who I would expect to join Man City. If he does, that would make one of either Given or Hart available and either would be a good signing for the club. Though, if Szczesney Hawkes harbours hopes of one day becoming our no1, he’ll be hoping that it’s Given that we go for and that he would one day replace Given assuming, of course, that he reaches a high enough level to be deserving of the no1 shirt.
One player that seems to have taken a step closer to the exit door is El Crapitain, Gallas. Apparently, contract talks haven’t really gone all that well and he is still stalling over signing the new deal. I’m not really sure what the problem is, the club have a long-standing policy with regard to the length of contracts offered to players in their 30s, so that shouldn’t have been a surprise to Gallas once talks began. So, if he won’t accept a one year rolling contract, then it’s time for him to sling his hook. I don’t necessarily agree with Wenger’s policy on contracts for the over-30s, but as long as he is manager, that’s what the players are going to be offered.
The rumours seem to indicate that Wenger will buy from within England. So, I wonder whether we will see one of Hart/Given along with Hangeland lining up for us in defence in August. Though with Given being out injured it’s unlikely he’d play in August, if signed.
Anyway, plenty of time for transfer speculation another day.
*UPDATE: Arshavin on Dennis Lachter:
Arsenal News 24/7
The North Bank - "It's got va-va-voom" (An Arsenal blog) 
Typical as I said wenger needs to move on we are not a finishing school for mediocre African and French footballers.We are Arsenal FC a club that should be winning trophies.
See we’re linked with an Senagalese defender. Great, we ship out Kolo and Adebarndoor and replace them with a Moroccan and (potentially) a Senagalese. Hope we don’t sign him as we’ll just lose him every two years for the ACN if FIFA don’t change it to a summer competition.
Sadly this signing means that Arsene is staying for at least one more season.The excuse for not making any signings until deadline day will be the fact we didn’t finish 3rd and so guarantee champions lge qualification because I think Spurs will finish above us.
The ol’ song making department is a work in progress.
With one signing done, let’s hope there will be at least one more announced before the World Cup. Because, once the W/C begins, I have a feeling that we will have to wait until deadline day for any other transfer dealings as the boss goes bargain hunting. That’s his thing.
OK, better song than your last effort !! Lets hope this is the start of the “finger out summer” where Wenger finally buys the experience we need