On this Deadline day, Arsenal have conducted one piece of business so far: loaning Ju-Young Park to Celta Vigo. The South Korean striker has obvious qualities, but couldn't show them at Arsenal in his first season.
Yesterday, however, the suggested sale of Theo Walcott was ruled out.
In the papers, different reporters had different sources. In the Independent, the angle was obviously pro-Walcott. The England winger was described as 'incredulous' after Arsenal had told him to sign or be sold. Arsenal, on the other hand, was said to have 'backed down from their ultimatum'. The report looks very much like a reply to the earlier reports about Arsenal's reactions to the demands from Walcott's representatives (see here).
In the Daily Mail, the gist of a shorter and more neutral report is that Walcott convinced manager Arsène Wenger that he wanted to stay, and made Arsenal 'ditch their plans' for a sale before tonight.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror's sources are obviously pro-club, highlighting Arsenal's hardball tactics as the deciding factor for Walcott staying. After receiving the news of Arsenal's firm stance, he was also left out of the lineup at Stoke. Walcott is said to have backed down and made it clear that he wants to stay and negotiate further.
The exact opposite story emanates from the Daily Star, where Wenger 'pleads with Walcott' to not become the third star to leave in this transfer window.
As always, the truth is somewhere in the middle of all these different versions of events. With most papers seemingly using one source at a time, what really has happened isn't easy to read.
As for incoming targets on Deadline day, Wenger has spoken as clear as a foggy day: Arsenal are active in the transfer market, but will only buy if a 'special player' becomes available. That can mean anything.
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