Arsene Wenger is set to have the last laugh. Or, as is more his style, the last wry grin.
After eight long years, he finally has a team that seems able and willing to end the trophy drought at the Emirates.
Olivier Giroud is delivering on his potential. Aaron Ramsey is showing his class. Tomas Rosciky looks the player he was five years ago. And the defence. Arsenal’s defence looks solid. Yes, stranger things have happened.
Wenger’s quotes in the press Sunday that “there will be no panic buys” now seem sagely prescient.
Arsenal now look poised to make a signing of strategy and choice rather than one that is aimed at satisfying the baying media or the more fickle, trophy-less Gunner fans.
The short-view looks rosy, but surely, Le Professor is too wily to take that outlook.
He must know that with Lukas Podolski out for some time now due to injury, he cannot dump the goal-scoring pressure on Giroud; the football experts have already warned in the UK press today that Giroud is no Van Persie or Henry.
As the transfer clock ticks down to close Monday, Wenger, according to some reports has thrown his hat in the ring for Mesuit Ozil of Real Madrid and Demba Ba of Chelsea.
Depending on which side of London you believe, Angel Di Maria and Abel Hernandez are all last-minute possibilities for Wenger.
Demba Ba might be the most realistic, given that Manchester United and PSG are chasing Ozil and Wenger is loathe (and under no pressure now) to over-pay for a footballer.
Seven new signings at arch rival Tottenham Hotspur were negated in Sunday’s 1-0 victory.
But, and nobody knows this better than Arsenal, the season is long and Champions League action beckons.
Sign now, Liverpool are coming.
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Latest Arsenal transfer news: Di Maria, Ozil double strike or Ba in final countdown
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