A Happy New Year to one and all. Let’s hope it will be.

The January sales are up and running, albeit slowly. We’ve been told that nobody is leaving, but I'll believe that when I see it. Looking around Europe and the Premiership there are some tasty players available in the positions we need. The only trouble is one minute we’re told that if the boss wants to sign a £30million player then he can with the board’s blessing and the next were told by old PHW that Arsene has a limited budget. I’m sure we will know the truth when/if he does sign someone.

The good thing is that this window is open till the 2nd of Feb and it gives us a little more time than normal, but I would rather sign someone sooner rather than later, in order for them to blend in with the current crop. In our last season at Highbury Wenger splashed out on Ade, Theo and Diaby during the January window, but very little since then. If anything there have been more departures. I saw a list on the net showing some of the talent available and it was pretty surprising how little valued were the names on show.

Here are some of the players on that list:

Mark Van Bommel, Lukas Podolski, Martin Demichelis, Adriano and of course Arshavin and Yaya Toure.

All of whom would walk into our current team, get games and get back to their best. Van Bommel is 32 and has at least four years left in him and Podolski and Adriano are proven goalscorers which is what we are crying out for. Move Bendtner on as he’s had his time at the club and there’s space for at least one of them. Also these players would hit the ground running and we wouldn’t have to wait for them to adjust to the rigors of the Premiership. They have also played at the highest level for a few years. I seem to remember we went in for Van Bommel when he left PSV but he eventually went to Barca - and won the Champions League. Now I’d take that.

Kolo Toure is still very much an important player for us, he’s one o the few ‘old heads’ in the team. He loves the club and always tries to do his best even when not fully fit. If he’s upset because of Gallas then I’d back Kolo all the way as Gallas clearly cannot be trusted and should be moved on. We have Johan Djourou who is finally being given a chance and would be ideal cover until a replacement for Gallas is found.

On a more positive note, it’s nice to see young Jack Wilshire sign his first professional contract at the club. Players like him are a once in a lifetime find and he’s the future of the club and the national team. However, my message to the Board is stop dawdling around and get the likes of RVP and Theo tied down to longer deals, especially with the ‘Webster Rule’ coming into force, which is worse than losing someone on a free a la Flamini, and would be catastrophic. These two players are pivotal to our success if we want to become great once again.