It seems that the impatient are to get their wish with some transfer activity being reported. The Independent says that Florent Malouda will cost in the region of £10m, hijacking his expected move to Liverpool. The paper seem to believe talks will be under way tomorrow but whether that is with Lyon or the player, it is unclear. In terms of the player, he fits the bill of what was seemingly required, left-winger, international and CL experience and not too expensive. His record last season was ten goals in twenty seven League starts which is something that was missing from midfield.

If he does sign, I would be surprised if there is any more transfer activity other than outgoings (or the ‘unexpected’ departure requiring a replacement to be signed). Goalkeeping is settled with Lehmann facing a challenge from Almunia and Fabianski. Defence seems to be covered with Hoyte and Eboue at RB, Toure, Gallas, Djourou and Senderos at CB, Clichy and Traore at LB. Central Midfield then weighs in with Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby, Gilberto; RM has Hleb, Walcott, Ljungberg; LM Rosicky, Malouda. Finally up front, Henry, RvP, Adebayor and Bendtner. That is twenty four players which ought to be sufficient to cover the normal injuries and suspensions, rather than the freak long-term injuries suffered over the past two seasons. The question is then whether Arsene is ’scarred’ by the defensive and attacking injuries in that time and looks to bring in maybe another forward and defender to cover. I don’t see the need for the latter unless someone leaves whilst the forward will need to be a big name to oust RvP and Henry. The biggest problem though is unsettling the current squad. There needs to be competition for places but that should be two players directly competing for a place with perhaps a third who is versatile enough to cover the position in the short-term.

On that subject, there is enough versatility to suggest the squad should remain as it is. Toure and Djourou can play RB, Hoyte and Gilberto CB, Hoyte and Gallas at LB. Midfield is fluent and interchangable anyway with positions meaning little to anyone other than Gilberto. Attack can be supplemented by Rosicky as an advanced midfielder so unless there is a burning desire on Arsene’s part to bring in new blood, I cannot see anything other than 1 signing coming on board, that being Malouda. Even if Ljungberg left, I don’t think Arsene would buy to replace him given his thoiughts that Walcott needs to learn his Premiership trade from the wide position.

Meanwhile AW is getting some thoroughly undeserved flack for being bigger than the Club. How this has been arrived at is as a response to Cesc’s comments about leaving if Arsene does. So, AW gets the flack for something he didn’t have any say in, something he didn’t do, something he has no input on. Hmmmm, I’m having a tough one following that one but bear with me it will all become clear in a minute, I’m sure….Nope, still don’t get it. Just because a player is loyal to the boss is not indicative of AW being bigger than the club. Just because AW has not signed a new contract does not mean an implosion at the end of the 2007/08 season. Do we know if one has been offered? Do we know that the terms are acceptable if one has? No and No. So why panic? Remember, all of this side were brought in by AW so they owe him their Arsenal careers but how often do players back an outgoing manager, saying they will be off, when the reality is that very few of these threats actually get carried through.

Another signing (or absence of it) has caused consternation, namely the Director of Football. Let’s not get to uppity about this not going through yet. At this moment in time, any new appointment is likely to be a bit of a lame duck in that they will be joining at a time of heavy activity, unable to contribute much because negotiations will be underway, the introduction of someone new likely to upset that process rather than enhance. Ken Friar, Edelman and AW are covering it off at the moment, Friar is an interim appointment until 1st July so why rush? My guess is that once the transfer activity for the Summer is done and dusted, then a new appointee will be made.

One thing that has struck me is that Dein seems to be going through a beatification process, surely a sainthood arriving in the near future. Let’s make no bones about this, he did have extensive experience, he did do good for the club but it takes two to tango. DD was against The Emirates, which if he had his way would have meant schlepping up to Wembley every home game and his final falling out with the Board seems to have been a long term issue not a sudden rush of blood. Yet nobody is accusing him of being bigger than the Club? I don’t ‘get’ the double standards being applied when talking of him and AW? DD was not Arsenal. He may have been more experienced than the current Board but in every walk of life, there comes a time to move on. That time for him has come. He’s gone. He may come back at some point in the future but until then, he is nothing to do with the Club other than a shareholder.

’til Tomorrow.