Proper expectations for a Silly Season

Seasoned Arsenal fans and Silly Season aficionados have heard it all before: "When you think of the players we have had out, we do not need too many."

The words of Arsène Wenger, long famous for not seeing incidents on the pitch, but soon MORE famous for declaring any player returning from injury as being "like a new signing..."

The Arsenal management feels that the current squad has the quality required to win trophies and titles. In this piece from the Press Association, Wenger admits that "one or two departments" need seeing to. No prizes for anyone guessing the goalkeeping dept. and the central defence agency.

The guidelines for "how to speak about the club" are meticulously followed by Sol Campbell in the PA piece. He speaks of the potential in the young squad, and that the only thing lacking is belief. The mental state of the youngsters always seems to pop up when the team's efforts are analysed. Earlier, Wenger is on record saying that Sol has meant a lot to the dressing room, and that his transfer policy of not signing older, former players may be changed.

"One or two departments" it is. Well, the only transfer rumour yet which absolutely refuses to go away is the free transfer of Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux. Everyone, including myself, considers this a done deal. But he's a striker - so which is the other department?

I'll go out on a limb and suggest that Wenger is concentrating on replacing Silvestre and Senderos with a new central defender. Campbell and Gallas may very well get extensions, but Vermaelen and Djourou will need more backup than those two. Håvard Nordtveit has been told that he will fight for a first team place next season after two and a half years on loan, and perhaps Kyle Bartley will be considered on par with the Norwegian. But if this season has taught us anything, it's that injuries happen - and they don't wait for the most appropriate time.

What, no goalie? Well, there might come a situation where Arsenal might be tempted by an available top class goalkeeper... but how many are in the market? At the same time, Almunia and Fabianski are talked up by Wenger, who also have Wojcech Szczesny on hold. Fabianski have even been allowed to defend himself in public through the Evening Standard. My money is on no goalkeeper being signed.

And Wenger wants to get the deals through before the World Cup. That's seven weeks, then...