January is finally here and with it comes the first Transfer Window of the New Year.

Will we get any????

However Arsenal have got in quick on the official site to let us all know why we shouldn’t expect to see too many new faces arrive, especially in the midfield. This is how it reads:

Chuks Aneke (18)

When a manager such as Wenger compares you to one of the best midfielders in the world, you know you have a bright future. The 18-year-old – who came on as a substitute against Shrewsbury Town in the Carling Cup in September – has clearly made quite an impression. β€œChuks is a bit like Yaya Toure – he has body power and good technique,” Wenger said.

Oguzhan Ozyakup (19)

The Dutch youth international has long shone at reserve-team level and made the step up into Wenger’s plans this term after coming off the bench against Shrewsbury. The technically astute midfielder was also named in the squad for the Champions League trip to Olympiacos.

Conor Henderson (20)

The young midfielder made a good impression on his debut against Leyton Orient, prompting Wenger to say: β€œHe did well and showed that technically he is of the level we request here. He has a nice, smooth left foot and has a good physical build.” However, Henderson damaged his cruciate ligaments in July and is not expected to return until the New Year.

Nico Yennaris (18)

The versatile midfielder was thrown into first-team action against Bolton in the Carling Cup in October, making an encouraging debut with a combative, enthusiastic display. The England Under-20 international can play in midfield, at right back or in central defence and has shown he has a bright future.

Daniel Boateng (19)

A powerful central defender, Boateng was handed his first-team bow as a substitute against Bolton in the Carling Cup and recently signed a new contract with the Club. The challenge for the 19-year-old now is to push on and establish a place in Wenger’s plans on a long-term basis.

That’s five reasons that we will no doubt fail to see a defensive signing and certainly not a midfielder but the 6th is:

Arsenal CEO, Ivan Gazidis!

Is he really the right man to take us forward?

David Dein splits opinion among Arsenal fans a bit like Marmite but when he walked [ or was forced ] out of the door of the Boardroom, I felt that the clubs ambition and determination to compete for honours, walked out with him.

David Dein may or may not have been a lot of things but he was and still is a fan, he was a facilitator and he got the club’s transfer business done and he got it done early.

When he went he left behind him the appalling Peter Hill-Wood, Keith Edelman, hardly a rip-roaring success and Ken Friar, a willing trier and a group of nondescript faceless wonders.

Has the arrival of Stan Kroenke changed anything?

He left Hill-Wood in place, a handy aunt sally who could deflect any criticism away from Silent & Constantly Absent Stan and while Hill-Wood was coming out with his pearls of wisdom to a down market newspaper, nobody was asking ‘what the hell is Stan doing’?

If Gazidis’ arrival was meant to calm our nerves, then I’m afraid to say that it hasn’t.

Somehow I cannot imagine David Dein allowing his transfer business to drag on up to the 31st of January, or August for that matter.

Gazidis failure to do his job probably cost Arsenal some 5 or 6 points at the start of this campaign. A deficit that Wenger has tried manfully to close but it leaves the clubs top-four position in grave danger.

Do we expect Gazidis to pull any rabbits out of the hat this January? Or will he let another top target slip through his fingers as he carelessly did with Juan Mata?

Already Eden Hazard, another long-time target, is being lined up by Man City, whilst Gazidis lines up his excuses. Ditto Mario Goetz… Marko Reus… etc etc.

Do I expect Gazidis to pull off a morale boosting deal this January?

No I don’t, but I do expect to hear Gazidis hiding behind the wealth of Chelsea and Man City, as his excuses for doing sod all and of course telling us all that we have young players coming through!

Added to that there will be injured players returning who will labelled ‘like new signings’ by the manager – one of which is Sagna, suggestion is that he could be in for a return against Manchester United which is really good news.

Oh well, roll on January 31st and a couple of loan deals. πŸ˜‰

Written by Allezkev