(Ed’s note – This offering arrived in the midst of the World Cup, on 20th June, at a time when I was unable to get online much and a piece or two fell by the wayside. However, the only development since has been the signing of Laurent Koscielny, so I still think this viewpoint is still worth running. Apologies to the author for the delay.)

Gooners cannot afford to be complacent about the absence of signings since the Inglorious B*stard performances of last spring. Nobody believes that free transfer Chamakh alone is the key to winning silverware.

It’s fine preaching patience is a virtue (see John Bassett’s piece on 20th June) but there’s a real danger of missing the transfer boat. At the time of writing, pre-season training is just two weeks away.

This isn’t just my view but far more importantly it’s our manager’s. In May he promised imminent signings saying “the earlier you settle your team the better.” Absolutely Arsene, so just do it!

Despite the usual rumours - 111 ‘linked’ players at the last count (see arsenalssillyseason) and the usual placatory words from Le Boss there are reasons to be fearful:
* last close season we bought just one player, Vermaelen, on 19 June
* we are reluctant to spend money
* Wenger will not pay what he regards as inflated prices
* prices go up after the World Cup

Even if this paints an over-pessimistic picture, late signings take time to fit in. I can hear the words now… he had a hard World Cup and needed a longer break…. he missed pre-season with us... he needs time to get used to the way we play… and on and on.

Some of the reasons Vermaelen began so well are that he was bought early, moved home, had a full pre-season, got to know his colleagues and was ready to go. Let’s learn that lesson Arsene or we’ll all suffer the consequences.