It looks like the same old story for the Gunners.
As Tottenham Hotspur close in on Roberto Soldado of Valencia, across north London Arsenal’s grand total of summer transfers still consists of one free transfer.
The signing of France under-20 striker Yaya Sanogo from Auxerre may be a great nod to the future, but as Spurs continue to improve the Gunners face being left behind.
It wasn’t meant to be this way, not this summer, as fans at the Emirates Stadium were said to see an end to their exasperation in the market as the club had a £70m budget.
There was excitement as no longer where Arsenal the selling side of late that had let Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie and Samir Nasri leave in the past two years, but players of that calibre would in fact be bought.
Suddenly international stars such as Gonzalo Higuain were being linked with the Emirates and everything looked rosy. Then it all went quiet.
Higuain bypassed the Premier League and went to Napoli instead, whilst other targets were named and never materialised.
Now a month into the transfer window and Sanogo remains the one and only acquisition and Arsene Wenger is beginning to left red-faced.
The optimism that had been growing at the Gunners has now started to wane once more and supporters are beginning to think this £70m is non-existent.
The club are admittedly still being constantly linked with Luis Saurez after having a bid for the Uruguayan officially turned down, yet since then no more has come to the negotiations.
Wenger needs to get into gear if the Frenchman wants to improve the squad.
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