I can't help thinking that a fair bit of the magic has been lost following this showbiz transfer saga. I might be 36, but I still think about jumping the advertising hoarding and making it as a pro, just like when I was a kid, just like Charlie George. And just like Ashley Cole.

If Cole was such an Arsenal fan then surely he would wish to arrange his future around playing for the club he professes to love. To see him transferred either due to his own personal greed or the club's intransigence is a crime when you consider the amount of money, time and effort put into Cole's development. And transferred to a big rival as well, do they have no concept of what the paying thousands will feel? By 'they' I mean Cole and the club. I haven't felt this disappointed by a sale since Brady left in 1980. Perhaps an indication of the club's indifference is the fact that there was no mention on the official website this morning of any of the previous day's transfers, just Wenger dribbling on about Brazil. A look at the first team squad, however, revealed a total absence of the number three. Gone and seemingly forgotten. Is the club embarrassed by all of this? Did they think we wouldn't notice? The smirk on the chops of my Chelsea supporting colleague and the attempted wind-ups from Palace and Fulham fans who are reveling in our plight, suggest that I'm not alone in thinking that we have come out of all of this as the losers.

We have a big problem in defence now, what with Clichy's susceptibility to injuries and the departures of Cole, Campbell and the unlikely situation of a club actually paying money for Cygan. He might have been rubbish, but he has tried his best whenever called upon, is a defender and is left-footed, which of course will be scarce on the left side of our team now that Reyes has also put the club in an impossible situation and jumped ship. I always thought he was a lightweight diver anyway and seemed to contribute little although he may have been played out of position. He must surely go down as one of Wenger's few flops and the fee paid in no way reflects good value. I don't know enough about Baptista to comment, but it would be nice to think that he may be a bit rusty but hungry enough to prove himself after being messed about by Real. We have no representation in the England starting X1 now that McLaren has deemed Walcott not up to scratch. The back four looks uncertain, although it will be interesting to see how Gallas and Toure combine and we have Senderos to come back as well.

Maybe we have to accept we are a club in transition, off the field as well as on, but how long until attendances dwindle and those more used to unbeaten runs and Cup finals are up in arms about paying a fortune to watch a struggling team? The 'support' won't put up with a poor product as the consumer mentality continues to increase its grip on the top end of the game. Follow Cole's example and trade in your allegiance? Don't bet against it. I have been certain of this ever since the home game against Palace two seasons ago. The idiot in front of me sat back in his seat, folded his arms, opened his legs and said loudly, but to no-one in particular, "So entertain me", as if the players owed this fool something.

This isn't a rant because of a couple of bad results - I won't be putting money on us to be relegated, but two years after going through a season unbeaten the current situation represents a major shift in Arsenal's fortunes. Maybe we're better off losing the celebrity-obsessed Cashley, but I won't pretend that it doesn't hurt.

Losing the plot on and off the field... Leeds anyone?

A bit over the top, but it needs sorting - and quick.