Mesut Ozil’s late arrival at the Emirates was greeted with much relief and considerable joy by Gunners fans and players alike on transfer deadline day, but his capture must now be backed up by a much more structured transfer policy from the club in January.
Everyone knows the story over the summer. Arsenal, we were (in the end correctly) told, had a stash of cash to spend on the right quality of player(s), that would potentially turn them from perennial top-four finishers into a side capable of being among the favourites in the Premier League title odds.
So far, so good. However, it never quite panned out like many had hoped. As June dragged on into July, only the free-transfer arrival of Yaya Sanogo was new to the books and several targets came and went.
Fear not, though, because Real Madrid talisman Gonzalo Higuain would be the marquee signing everyone was waiting for. A medical was apparently arranged, a fee seemingly agreed and, at one stage during the mini-heatwave of July, it looked like the experienced Argentinian was all but signed and sealed.
The move went cold, however, and the Paddy Power transfer betting odds were set alight when attention quickly turned to Luis Suarez.
Here was a player that, while clearly one of the most talented footballers around and probably exactly the sort of striker the Gunners required, divided opinion.
His controversial past – biting and racism are not the sort of things usually associated with Arsenal players but he has them both on his CV – meant many were not keen on the Liverpool star, while others welcomed the now infamous £40m-plus-one-pound offer.
In the end it wasn’t enough to trigger a murky ‘release clause’ in his contract and, as the Reds held firm, it became clear Suarez was going nowhere – and especially not to Arsenal.
So some, it seemed, started to panic. It was now August and still no new arrivals. Another target, Yohan Cabaye, slipped through Arsene Wenger’s fingers and we headed into deadline day with several targets but a lack of clear vision.
Eventually, in the scramble that was Monday September 2, one of Europe’s most gifted attacking midfielders swapped Madrid for London in what was a genuine surprise deal, but one that, finally, the club could celebrate.
He is exactly the sort of big-money capture that everyone at Arsenal wanted in order to not only improve the side immeasurably, but also one that sends out a message to the Champions League rivals that the Gunners, admittedly belatedly, mean business.
So, while the Ozil deal is to be welcomed, it needs to be followed up by a far better plan for the New Year, because, make no mistake, more players of the quality of the Germany international are required if the club are to compete with free-spending Chelsea, Man City and current champions Man United this season.
A sensible approach would be to identify targets, speak to the clubs, agents and players involved in good time, submit proper, acceptable bids and get the business done as quickly as possible. Easier said than done, I know, but others seem to be able to do it without too much bother.
There is already early talk of another January offer for Suarez, while Wenger will be well aware he probably needs another defender and top-quality striker to reinforce his squad for the second half of the season.
Long-term planning is key, because no-one wants a repeat of the farce of this summer even if, ultimately, Arsenal did end up with a player on board that the rest of Europe’s top clubs would also want in their squad in an instant.
