Excuse the title, but I have been looking for insurance quotes recently.

There is a purpose for using this heading, as will soon become clear. Since Tuesday I have been trying hard to find some positives to cheer us all up after the transfer deadline disappointment of bringing in absolutely nobody.

Let us compare the Arsenal squads of 2005/6, 2006/7, 2007/2008 and the current squad.

The general gripe amongst most Gooners is that we are too young and inexperienced, and that we are really missing players of the calibre of Henry, Ljungberg, Campbell etc.

But there are some interesting facts, which perhaps might just change your mind. Have a look at the following:

Season 2005/2006
In our last season at Highbury, we finished with our lowest points total since 1996! We lost a frightening 11 games and it was only with a little last day fortune and help from some dodgy lasagne plus Messrs Fletcher and Benayoun of West Ham, that we were able to finish above the Lillysh*tes. As far as the playing squad was concerned, before the start of the season we had lost Patrick Vieira and Edu but had brought in Adebayor, Diaby and Hleb.

Season 2006/2007
Our first season at the Emirates saw us finish 4th again on 68 points, but we only lost 8 games. We had bidden farewell to Bergkamp, Pires, Campbell and Reyes (oh and David Bentley - if you can remember him). We welcomed in Julio Baptista, Denilson, Gallas, and Rosicky. So losing three hugely experienced and talented players (plus Reyes) actually saw us improve – albeit by not very much.

Season 2007/2008
We came mighty close to the title last year with 83 points and losing just 3 games. Yet we had lost Henry, Lauren, Ljungberg, Cole and Baptista, bringing in the fairly unknown Sagna, Diarra (for half a season at least) plus Eduardo. That’s 5 vastly experienced quality players out and just three little known outfielders in, yet we made a huge improvement on the season before.

Season 2008/2009
So what have we now? Out have gone Hleb, Diarra (in January), Flamini, Gilberto, Lehmann and Senderos (plus Hoyte of course), and in have come Nasri, Silvestre, Ramsey, and this Bischoff bloke - of whom I know absolutely bugger all about - and of course Fabianski who came in prior to last season. Carlos Vela is now back with us at last (did you know we signed him back in January 2007?) so we can count him as new for this year. So that’s sort of 6 out and sort of 6 in. We all know that we have not replaced Flamini, and if Cesc misses games we have no one who can play his role, but let’s just wait and see how things are panning out before we all think of slashing our wrists.

You never know – we might just go one, or even two better than last season!