I was just thinking back to seasons gone by and remembered that fateful deadline day last season.

[Rich]

Who did we end up panic buying? Santos, Arteta, Park? Did Squillaci join then as well?

I imagine Wenger realising late on in the day that he barely had enough players to fill the squad so just thought he would go out and buy a defender, a midfielder and a striker, regardless of who they actually were.

I can't help but feel we'd have been better off just saving the wages (with the exception of Arteta - can you believe he had to take a pay cut to join from Everton :hehe: )

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

And I believe we got Mertesacker then, as well? Squillaci joined one or two seasons before that, irrc

[Rich]

[Brentwood]

I remember people saying at the time that he was a pretty poor defender and they couldn't understand why he'd signed him

I still remember someone pointing out that he was up at 03:00 posting pictures on Instagram the night before an important game :hehe:

[Luis Anaconda]

some description posting on here that he believed SS was a miles better defender than Koscielny (admittedly based on what his mate had told him). Wonder who that was ;-)

[Rich]

middle of the season when he wasn't injured.

That in itself is not an issue. Most things are OK in moderation. But if you're a professional athlete who already has weight issues, it's probably best to stick to chicken salad.

These Brazilians often seem to have weight issues.

[Nicosia Gooner]

Brazil again

I am much happier with Gibbs and Monreal even though Nacho had a few problems at the weekend

[Rich]

They were certainly correct with the unspectacular apart.

[Rich]

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

And then the fans started rinsing him when he was coming back. Sad times

[Brentwood]

wouldn't you ask yourself a few questions when he turns up with fried egg and brown sauce stains down his shirt and a massive head and body?

[Nicosia Gooner]

reason for the photo?

Certain people always look overweight, even athletes

[Nicosia Gooner]

[Rich]

probably wouldn't have such a big portion.

He's a massive, lardy lummox of a man.

[Classic Jorge]

Though quite why Arsene thought such a slow defender would be an ideal fit for a team that plays one of the highest lines in europe is beyond me.

[Classic Jorge]

It was on Arse.com FFS

[Nicosia Gooner]

about it than any of us, unless of course they are all stupid and don't care

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Luis Anaconda]

Maybe if he had played alongside LK as we know him now rather than the version who was still settling in he might have been different. Per and LK seem to work just fine

[Luis Anaconda]

Only a week and a bit to the First Test :cloud9:

[redgunamo]

[Nicosia Gooner]

[Free SL]

Ravi in the Champions Trophy squad.

[redgunamo]

tell them they are just supposed to be cannon fodder.

[Pat Vegas]

[Nicosia Gooner]

[Rich]

Still, the NZ series is the perfect warm-up for the Ashes.

I'm not sure I rate Compton, though. I hope Root does well captaining the Lions and then comes in for Compton against Aus and opens the batting with skip.

Current and future captains opening up. Just like Straussy and Cook :cloud9:

[Billy Goat Sverige]

Rumour has it RvP, Ronaldo, and Arteta didn't even have time to pick up their knife and fork.

http://football-talk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RVP-with-Ronaldo.jpg

[Rich]

Or reds - whatever colour they are now.

[Luis Anaconda]

he's coming off the back of a couple of centuries. Root is a huge talent though, he will be opening before long

[Luis Anaconda]

Seriously

[redgunamo]

They need to manage their weight very carefully indeed because of their habit of enjoying enormous long family meals. As soon as they cut down on the exercise, on come the pounds.

[Luis Anaconda]

They seemed to have spent more time on their selections then the Lions did at any rate

[Rich]

Not sure if that's possible, mind you.

[Rich]

A life of excess seems to come very easily to them.

[Brentwood]

[The Tony]

Almost blew the Arteta deal with the lad having to take a pay cut to join.

Wanted Dempsey but got Benayoun and Park instead.

Dread to imagine how the Santos deal went down and who Arsene really wanted. Probably Monreal but got told - Heeeeeeeere's Santos! He's Brazilian like...lots of skills you'll love him Arsene....Bigger version of Ashley Cole :ivan:

[Brentwood]

[Classic Jorge]

[Free SL]

The new regime don't drop people if they have a bad couple of tests. Compton will open in the first Ashes test match unless he's injured.

[Brentwood]

There is no indication whatsoever that the causde of his ****ness was the fans' fault

[Luis Anaconda]

He's in good touch - not as good as Root admittedly.

[Free SL]

[Nicosia Gooner]

[Free SL]

[Luis Anaconda]

though by the looks of it neither did the Essex selectors. Very strange one

[Free SL]

must have been unfit as he has played loads of 2nd XI cricket already this summer.

[Rich]

well and given we have an Ashes series and that silly trophy to play we'll struggle to fit another test match in there.

[Luis Anaconda]

[Nicosia Gooner]

was made out to be

[Maravilloso Marvo]

[Nicosia Gooner]

[Nicosia Gooner]