Transfer Chaos As Deals Crash Club’s Official Website

Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun and Per Mertesacker were all confirmed as Arsenal players on deadline day, as was the Brazilian left wing-back, Andre Santos. In fact, it was a day so uncharacteristically busy for Arsenal, the official website crashed for a little while as too many fans rushed to the site for confirmation on transfers – some of which ended up going down to the wire.

Everton’s central midfielder Arteta is said to to cost around £10 million, as the 29 year-old signs on a four year deal worth £60,000 per week – that’s £10,000 less than he was earning as an Everton player. His eagerness to join Arsenal and play in the Champions League helped to move the deal along at such a late hour, and Wenger finally got his man just before the deadline, meaning Arsenal have purchased a player with a wealth of Premier League experience.

Meanwhile, Yossi Benayoun also comes to Arsenal with years of experience in England, having played for West Ham, Liverpool and Chelsea. The 31 year-old Israeli also has valuable experience in the Champions League, a competition he would have been unlikely to play in at Chelsea due to their summer purchases in the midfield, which included Liverpool’s Raul Meireles.

Benayoun joins on a season long loan deal, and Bendtner leaves for Sunderland on those same terms. Arsenal’s signings of the South Korean striker Chu Young Park, and Gervinho meant Bendtner’s chances of starring in an attack which also includes Robin van Persie and Marouane Chamakh was unlikely, but the club will be hoping to see him improve and mature in his season away playing regularly.

Per Mertesacker’s signing was pretty much done and dusted before deadline day, but the move was officially confirmed with Wenger singing the Germans praises: 

“We are delighted to welcome Per Mertesacker to the Club. He is a German international with vast experience and strength and is good on the floor and in the air. I believe he will be well-suited to the Premier League and a tremendous asset to the team.”

So two defensive signings and two midfield signings in the last few days of the window seem to be holding off some critics of Arsene Wenger’s transfer policy, however some are labelling the signings as “panic buys,” and ones which Arsenal fans may have cause to be worrying about as the season progresses. Both Arteta and Benayoun are experienced, but both have been troubled with injuries and aren’t in the best form of their lives.

Perhaps the step to Arsenal will rejuvenate the Arsenal squad and improve morale in the side recently crushed 8 – 2 by Manchester United. The depth has certainly been improved, and when the injured and suspended players return, Wenger will be looking at his players with a quiet satisfaction.

Football is a results business however, and with no wins in three Premier League games, these new player will have to start piling up the victories to save Arsenal’s miserable start to the season.

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