(Ed’s note – This article was submitted before Monday’s game at Blackburn!)

So there we go then, according to Arsenal.com we can forget about a summer clearout of the rubbish, and an influx of fresh blood. According to Arsene Wenger we need to bring two or three players maximum! Maybe he hasn’t been spinning the press a line over the years – he really doesn’t see it after all.

At the end of the Wigan game I watched Arsene’s interview and I was suddenly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for next season. He wore the expression of a broken man – a man upon whom it had finally dawned, that his thrifty youth project was at an end, it had failed, and it was time to perform major surgery. It would appear that this is, sadly, not the case. I got to thinking about the players that had appeared in the Carling Cup over the past couple of seasons and realised that most of them were out on loan – and mostly not tearing up any trees.

During a quiet time in the days after the draw with Man City I decided to reflect on the players that are/have been around the first team squad over the past 12 months and how many of these are worth holding on to. By my calculations we have had an extended first team squad comprising 44 players - somewhat excessive I would suggest. This number is made up thus:

5 goalkeepers – Almunia, Fabianski, Mannone, Sczeszny, Shea
16 defenders – Sagna, Eboue, Clichy, Gibbs, Traore, Gallas, Vermaelen, Campbell, Silvestre, Senderos, Djourou, Bartley, Ayling, Hoyte, Cruise, Botelho
13 midfielders – Nasri, Arshavin, Fabregas, Wilshere, Ramsey, Song, Diaby, Denilson, Eastmond, Merida, Lansbury, Henderson, Frimpong
10 strikers – Van Persie, Bendtner, Eduardo, Walcott, Vela, Simpson, Watt, Sunu, Barazite, Emmanuel-Thomas

Of these, at least half have either had their chances and failed (in some cases they have seemingly lost it or really do not want to play for Arsenal), or will never be first team players at Arsenal as long as they have a hole in their arse. My argument with these players is that they should be moved on – with the attendant transfer fees being added to any war chest. In my mind, the following players fit in to the category whereby Arsenal should cash in:

Almunia, Fabianski, Shea
Clichy, Traore, Ayling, Hoyte, Cruise
Nasri, Arshavin, Lansbry, Frimpong, Denilson, Diaby
Eduardo, Vela, Simpson, Watt, Sunu, Barazite

That is a total of 20 players to be shipped out. Given that some of these are big names this could make Wenger an extra £60-£70 million at a rough (and probably conservative) estimate. Added to this of course are those who are out of contract:

Gallas, Campbell, Silvestre, Senderos, Merida

Of those players I expect only Campbell to be retained – I think Gallas is off to Italy regardless of Wenger wishing to keep him.

Such a cull would leave Wenger with 20 players available and, probably, well in excess of £100 million burning a considerable hole in his back pocket. With this kind of money at his disposal Wenger would be able to afford to strengthen in the areas that we so badly need while, at the same time, bringing in a few players for the future – as is his wont.

Clear out the deadwood Arsene, and do it now. Please.