The chase is on

There are two days left of the transfer window. In today's press conference, Arsène Wenger confirmed again that he is looking for reinforcements of the first team squad.

Stating quite forcefully that Barcelona has said David Villa is not for sale, the manager at the same time confirmed that a bid or at least an enquiry has been made. Asked a direct question about there being any possible leeway in Barcelona's stance, Wenger answered with a simple "No"!

Later, with a cheeky grin he wouldn't admit to admitting Villa as an Arsenal target, but that's just semantics.

Far more interesting was Wenger's passionate defence of not signing players for the sake of making up the numbers in the first team squad:

When you speak to me, "anyone in?", it's just like you go out and you buy anyone just to make... give people hope. I think what is important is that you bring in players who can strengthen your team. Or you do nothing, and you're strong enough to do nothing.

And that is what's important for us. I've always said that. What is important is to bring a player in who can strengthen the squad. "Anyone" for me means just exactly what, today, the modern game has become.

My impression is that the Arsenal management see the weaknesses, especially when it comes to squad depth, and try to rectify. A striker, implied by the attempt to sign Villa, looks to be a priority.

There are a surplus of midfielders, hence Emmanuel Frimpong was allowed to join Fulham, but getting in more options in defence is another possibility.

Asked about his favorite deadline day memory (!), Wenger looked back on a year and a half ago, when five players were signed in two days. This window, I wouldn't expect any panic buys like some of those.

Happy New Year for loanees

2012 has come, and the window is open. Emmanuel Frimpong is already wearing orange. Thierry Henry is but details away from an emotional return. And the number of injured Arsenal full backs are now five and counting.

Henry's suggested arrival - as good as confirmed already - has gained more attention per day than any other transfer story since Cesc's worst will-he-won't-he days. Since the French legend returned for training at London Colney in the MLS holidays, a loan deal has been suggested and/or reported 117 times by this blog's regular sources. It's a gauge of how big this deal is in the public eye, not just for Arsenal fans.

Frimpong, on the other hand, has been allowed to move to what's hopefully is a starting midfield position in another Premier League side. Like Jack Wilshere before him, he'll hope to get experience which will catapult him into the Arsenal first choice XI the following season. Long-term, there's no doubt in my mind which deal is the most important for the club.

Meanwhile, Wayne Bridge keeps popping up as a possible loan deal. Another left back on the radar (according to the Sunday Mirror) is AC Milan's Taye Taiwo.

Arsenal may not be to keen on Bridge, having seen him make a complete fool of himself against Theo Walcott for West Ham last season. The fact that Nigeria haven't qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations this year might very well make Milan's benchwarmer Taiwo a better option.

Let's see what kind of fresh air the open window brings to the Emirates. The rumour page is up to date as of this New Year's Day.

Merry Christmas! Is Santa a Gooner?

Dear reader, let me wish you all the best for the holidays and the new year. This Christmas Day, we can sense the January window is just about to creak open.

But ho! Is that a scraping sound in the chimney? Ho, ho! Are the Arsenal socks safely in place, hanging from the mantel? Ho, ho, ho! Is that Thierry Henry we can hear, putting pen to paper for a short-term loan?

It hasn't taken Arsène Wenger many weeks to go from almost complete denial to acknowledging that he's considering a loan deal for Arsenal's toppest, Frenchest, goaliest striker ever. Even if the club have been linked with German international Lukas Podolski for weeks on end, and now even for Bobby Zamora (!), a deal for Henry will really create a buzz around the Emirates.

In this window, let's be very critical when it comes to rumoured deals for incoming midfielders. Players like Lucas Biglia and Kaká have eager agents working hard to make deals happen. At the same time, Arsenal are considering sending surplus midfielders loke Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong out on loan. Recruiting more just isn't the natural thing to do.

Where Wenger and the club admit to a need - bordering on desperation - is cover for the injured left backs. A loan signing looks imminent, as the manager want to keep Kieran Gibbs and André Santos as the long-term options.

"Everyone" reckons the frozen-out Wayne Bridge will be the natural choice: a former England international, a former Arsenal target (even if it's years ago) and a player more than eager to please any new employer. This interview in the Daily Mail/Mail on Sunday makes for depressing reading. The defender's take on the story is very different from the public scorn dished out from his own manager.

(Just a thought: imagine Arsène Wenger picking on one of his own players, ridiculing him in public. You can't really picture it, can you? Thought not.)

A loan deal for Bridge would fit the "new" transfer regime, where Wenger's faith in the youngsters have faded just a little bit, but just in the short term. The acquisitions of Sol Campbell, Jens Lehmann, Yossi Benayoun and perhaps Henry are other examples.

If I'm to venture my own Christmas guesses before the January Silly Season kicks in for real, I think that two veteran loanees are far more likely than anything Wenger can round up from the top of the Bundesliga...