A first win of 2012, seven goals, a striker in the form of his life, and one of the most exciting young talents in the country. Finally a day really worth cheering about.

The emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, in particular, is great news for the club. In recent times Arsene Wenger seemed to have lost his touch with bringing in exceptional young talents, with the likes of Diaby, Denilson and Walcott not fulfilling their potential, and the most exciting player, Wilshere, coming up through the club's academy.

After Vito Mannone moved to Hull on loan there was some suggestion that he had made available a space for non homegrown players to arrive.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. For the 2011/12 season we named five homegrown players over the age of 21, and 17 (the maximum allowed) non homegrown players.

After Vito Mannone moved to Hull on loan there was some suggestion that he had made available a space for non homegrown players to arrive.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. For the 2011/12 season we named five homegrown players over the age of 21, and 17 (the maximum allowed) non homegrown players.

Having last week ruminated in full on the state of our rearguard this season; this week's column will meditate on the performance further up the pitch. Taking in the oily machinery of the midfield engine room, through to the leather upholstery and walnut gear knobs up top. (Or in some cases, those big seats on the bench that look like they've been half inched from the McLaren showroom).

After Vito Mannone moved to Hull on loan there was some suggestion that he had made available a space for non homegrown players to arrive.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. For the 2011/12 season we named five homegrown players over the age of 21, and 17 (the maximum allowed) non homegrown players.

After 224 seconds into his Arsenal debut, Samir Nasri had already opened his Arsenal account with a simple tap in from a pass from Denilson. One of the best talents ever to be discovered by Arsene Wenger from France, Nasri was playing the football of his life. In his first season, he won over the [..

So the January transfer madness is almost upon us and tonight we are told by a Spanish paper that Arsenal have contacted AC Milan and offered 30M Euros for the incredibly decent Alexandre Pato if this happened, it would easily be the greatest transfer in the Wenger era.

The duck, as Pato is affectionately known as in Brazil, is one hell of a talented striker and just the kind of speedy, clinical type we have needed at the club since Henry left.

Written by chas

Andre Clarindo Dos Santos was born on the 8th March 1983 in São Paulo, Brazil. His early career at Figueirense was as a left winger. After loan spells at Flamengo and Athletico Mineiro, he joined Corinthians and was successfully converted into an attacking left back.

Written by chas

Andre Clarindo Dos Santos was born on the 8th March 1983 in São Paulo, Brazil. His early career at Figueirense was as a left winger. After loan spells at Flamengo and Athletico Mineiro, he joined Corinthians and was successfully converted into an attacking left back.

Jack Wilshere's successful loan spell at Bolton proved the final piece of his development. More please...

Even before the quarterfinal draw for the Carling Cup paired Arsenal with Manchester City (a.k.a., the Death Squad), many speculated that the reserve teamers logging time on the big stage would soon cede their places to first team players in a push for the silverware.

Brazilian midfielder Denilson could be on his way back to Arsenal after a row has broken out between himself and the fans of Sao Paulo, who are demanding he never play for them again. Denilson, 23, is on a season long loan deal with the Brazilian club, but after two red cards in just three [...]

Brazilian midfielder Denilson could be on his way back to Arsenal after a row has broken out between himself and the fans of Sao Paulo, who are demanding he never play for them again. Denilson, 23, is on a season long loan deal with the Brazilian club, but after two red cards in just three [...]

1. Find Abou Diaby
He's gone missing. Injurepol have been alerted but there is still no sign of our no-minutes-on-the-pitch midfielder. If spotted, feel free to approach him. He's completely harmless.

2. Avoid what Denilson's been drinking
Six appearances for Sao Paolo, three red cards.

Written by Oz Gunner

Theodore Roosevelt once said:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Wojciech Szczesny has refused to rule out following former captain Cesc Fabregas and switching from Arsenal to Barcelona.

But Szczesny admits any future move to the current European Champions would not be motivated by money.

The Metro this morning reports that the 21-year-old described the club as 'his second home' in an interview with the Polish media this week, but refused to rule out following a lengthy list of former Gunners' stars in joining the Spanish giants.

A lot of people have got it in for Aaron Ramsey right now.

Following our victory over Bolton I read several comments on AA and elsewhere to the effect that our young Welshie had a bad game and should be dropped to the stiffs.

Before the match someone even said he was turning into the new Denilson – always passing backwards and sideways as if, having grown up in a rugby-loving country, he was unaware that, with a round ball, you're allowed to pass forwards.

Football transfer rumours: Arsenal to sign Daniel Parejo?

Today's junk is using reverse psychology As a wise old jobbing American character actor in a Burt Lancaster film once said, even a hawk is an eagle among crows. And so it is that in these times of inter-window waffle-scarcity the news that former Liverpool wing mediocrity El Hadji Diouf is on the verge of a foul-tempered and ultimately short-lived return to football appears to qualify as a major transfer rumour.

Conceding late on only to a wonder-goal from Borussia Dortmund yesterday, Arsenal showed a new-found defensive solidity in their opening Champions League game of the season, and what might be the hardest of this group.

It's easy to forget that, with their nine-year absence from the competition, Dortmund are actually in it as German champions this year, and were never going to be easy to play away from home, with German grounds usually providing the best atmosphere in Europe.

Well that was something, eh?

I can't quite remember a transfer deadline day like it from an Arsenal point of view. I remember when we signed Gallas, Denilson and Baptista back in 2006. Actually, that's a lie. I remember waking up the next morning to discover we'd signed them, but my sense is there was nowhere near the intensity that we saw yesterday.

Arsenal have had all summer to buy players. Why they haven't done so until now is very much an area of conjecture. Have we been unwilling to do so or simply unable to get our business done?

For all our frustrations, it's hard to imagine that we've remained as static as we have through choice.

Ten days into the season, and the 'Arsenal in crisis' stories have rarely been more prevalent. The opening exchanges of a new campaign have been, at best, fraught, and at worst, downright embarrassing.

Regular readers will know that I'm one of the most optimistic people out there (for example, I'd suggest that now is an excellent time to place a bet on us finishing in the top four you'll get good odds), but even I have to admit that the situation has progressed into the realms of the comical.

After a disappointing end to last season, numerous Arsenal fans were calling for several players to be booted out of the club. I remember logging onto Twitter one day and seeing a great number of Arsenal fans I follow, tweeting the five players they wanted Wenger to sell this summer.

Whilst this may have been a bit of a rash reaction to a poor end to the season, it was understandable, emotions were running high, and many fans were finding it difficult to come to terms that Arsenal had ended their sixth consecutive season without a trophy.

Man, it feels good to type such a headline once again. Football is back and there is something to look forward to even if it isn't with the greatest of optimism.

I haven't done the season preview yet because a lot is bound to happen between now and the end of the season. I want to wait for the transfer window to close and see a couple of games, especially of Chelsea and Liverpool, before making any predictions.

I am an Arsenal fan. (It sounds like one's first words at the first address of a self-help meeting.) I check the Web every day to see if finally the drip-drip waterboard torture is finally over and we've either signed someone (I quadruple finger-crossed on the Juan Mata deal; I'm still doing so) or resolved anything with regard to Fabregas and/or Nasri.

I want to start off by acknowledging the response to the previous article. Thank you. And I am sorry I wasn't able to respond to the many considered opinions that were shared. Right now I am really struggling for time, which is also forcing me into compressing two or three articles worth of content in one.

July is nearing an end, and there is plenty of evidence that the upcoming season is drawing near as actual news is starting to pick up and Arsenal.com is churning out more articles daily. I think we are all thankful for some real news instead of transfer sagas that never end, so let's get to it.

Yesterday Arsenal officially confirmed the departure of youth product Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (aka JET) to Ipswich Town for a reported fee of 1.

It is very rare these days that we see an Arsenal player with a genuine connection to the club. A local lad, someone who has known Arsenal all their life, and not just from the start of their footballing education. When Lansbury scored against Spurs last season everybody could see what it meant to him he is Arsenal born and bred and suggestions of letting him go without giving him a decent chance in the first team would be typical of the youth project in recent years.

When the season came to a close, Arsene stated that we needed a bit more strength and experience in the squad, in particular in defence. The old sage has since enlightened us with the fact that he will be busy this summer, this was then refined that most business will be done at the end of July .

It is being reported today that Arsenal have agreed a £4m fee with the Turkish giants Galatasary for the 28 year-old defender Emmanuel Eboue, and he is leaving with Arsene Wenger's blessing. We all knew that Denilson and Bendtner were going to be out the door, but Eboue was thought to be staying at Arsenal [.

Arsene Wenger's latest signing Gervinho is well aware that both Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner have made it clear that they won't be playing for rsenal next season, and the Brazilian Denilson has already secured a years loan deal with his old club Sao Paolo in Brazil. Nicklas Bendtner is still looking for a new club, [.

Arsene Wenger's latest signing Gervinho is well aware that both Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner have made it clear that they won't be playing for rsenal next season, and the Brazilian Denilson has already secured a years loan deal with his old club Sao Paolo in Brazil. Nicklas Bendtner is still looking for a new club, [.

Adeus Denilson. Ta-da for now (though I am prepared to wager that the ‘for now' part will become ‘for good').

Denilson's departure reminded me that this summer was as much about clearing out some deadwood as it was about bringing in some alivewood [find a new word - Ed]. He's the first of the exclusive gang to go though who is in that gang is subjective and ebbs and flows accordingly.

In the seven days since last we spoke there have been some comings, some goings, some to-ings and some fro-ings. The gentle waft of the arriving football season is just beginning to tantalise the nostrils like the scent of a neighbour's barbecue on a balmy summer's evening. The first pre season friendlies are taking place; Harry Redknapp is getting RSI from winding down his windows for reporters and by now Xavi has doubtless done himself a similar mischief from acts of self abuse over his Cesc Fabregas photo album.

Denilson's finally moved on. I believe all concerned will be happy with that. Those fans who supported the Brazilian will appreciate a fresh lease of life for him. Others who couldn't stand him must be delighted he's gone. For Arsenal this opens up a slot in midfield and saves on some wages. For Denilson it is a chance to get his confidence back and an opportunity to work his way into the Brazilian national side.

Costa Rican teenage sensation Joel Campbell who caught the eye in the Copa America campaign is set to join Arsenal for a sum of £900,000. The Ticos exited in the group stage but Campbell made his mark scoring in a 2-0 win against Bolivia. They were outclassed 0-4 against Argentina with Campbell again shining with his speed and dribbling skills.

Well the Arsenal transfer rumours are now in full throttle and I can hardly keep track of them all at the moment! Obviously the big one is Cesc Fabregas, and the Mail reckons that he told Wenger today that he wants to move no matter what. I am beginning to think that may be true [...]

Brazilian midfielder Denílson Pereira Neves will not be an Arsenal player next season after accepting to move back to his country, on loan. Speaking to the Club's official website, the 23-year old confirmed that an agreement ...

We're entering a two week period, leading up to the Emirates Cup, where I believe we'll pretty much know who will be wearing an Arsenal shirt this season. The team is back from Asia, and this would be the time to get things settled before August comes. I'll start my report by focusing on players who are leaving, or might be leaving.

We're entering a two week period, leading up to the Emirates Cup, where I believe we'll pretty much know who will be wearing an Arsenal shirt this season. The team is back from Asia, and this would be the time to get things settled before August comes. I'll start my report by focusing on players who are leaving, or might be leaving.

Both Nicklas Bendtner and the Brazilian midfielder Denilson confidently announced they were looking for new clubs at the end of last season, and despite looking far and wide for new clubs they have both found out it is not so easy to find someone to take them off Arsenal's hands. It seems that Wenger tried [.