Gooner Talk

Arsenal have completed the signings of Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun, Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos on Transfer Deadline Day.

After a frenetic day filled with high expectations and tensions, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger managed to secure the services of two new defenders and two midfielders – with Arteta joining minutes before the 11pm (BST) deadline.

Wenger, criticised by the fans for not investing in the team after the departures of defender Gael Clichy and midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, acquired South Korea captain Park Ju-Young from Monaco earlier in the week.

“It is a big opportunity for me and my family and I think it is the right time for me to take it,” new-boy Arteta told Everton’s official website.

“It is a big challenge, a different challenge, fresh for me and I want to see myself on the biggest stage, the Champions League.

Arteta, 29, has the ability to play centrally or on either flank which will provide Wenger with some useful versatility, although it would be a surprise if, after the sale of Fabregas, the Frenchman sees Arteta as anything other than a central midfielder.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have agreed to play Werder Bremen in a pre-season friendly next summer, in a move which was agreed as part of the deal that brought Per Mertesacker to north London.

With thanks to Gunnerblog for the above image.

Premier League new-boys Queens Park Rangers are raiding Arsenal for another wantaway fringe player, with the Gunners currently mulling over a £1.8million offer for midfielder Henri Lansbury.

The England Under-21 international helped Norwich to promotion last season, but isn’t expected to be in Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger’s plans this season after he wasn’t included in the Gunners’ Champions League squad.

It is understood that Blackburn manager Steve Kean has also approached Arsenal about taking Lansbury on-loan for the new season.

Lansbury’s departure looks almost certain to be completed by the end of Transfer Deadline Day tomorrow evening, making him the third midfielder to leave Arsenal this summer after the exits of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

Arsenal have agreed a fee in the region of £6million with Fenerbahce for Brazilian left-back André Santos, according to reports in Turkey.

The Turkish side confirmed to the Istanbul Stock Exchange that Santos is in talks with an un-named club, although Gooner Talk understands that a £6million bid from Arsenal has already been accepted.

Santos, who will provide competition for injury-prone Kieran Gibbs at left-back, is expected to fly to London tomorrow ahead of penning a 4-year deal with Arsene Wenger’s side and undergoing a medical.

The 28-year-old has played for Brazil on 22 occasions and joined Fener from Corinthians in 2009, while his signing will provide much-needed cover in the full-back position for Wenger after the departures of Gael Clichy and Armand Traore.

Meanwhile, myself and The Goon Blog will be hosting a Live Transfer Deadline Day blog from tomorrow morning, with all the latest information being sourced and revealed in what is expected to be a busy day for Arsenal.

Armand Traoré will finally get his move to Premier League new-boys QPR today, after undergoing a medical at their Harlington training ground earlier this afternoon.

As first revealed by Gooner Talk almost a fortnight ago, Arsenal agreed to loan Traoré out when left-back Kieran Gibbs returned to full fitness during the current international break.

However, with that break now beginning it seems as if a permanent deal could be on the cards for the Senegalese defender, giving Arsene Wenger’s side the time to bring in a replacement before the transfer window closes on Wednesday.

Gooner Talk will keep you updates with all the latest transfer news via the blog and our Twitter page.

Lille chairman Michael Seydoux has claimed that Monaco striker Park Chu Young looks set to be joining Arsenal shortly.

The 26-year-old was expected to complete the second part of his medical ahead of a move to the Ligue 1 Champions today, but Seydoux said the frontman wasn’t in his hotel room on Saturday morning.

“He’s going to England, I guess he’s going to Arsenal”, Seydoux told L’Equipe.

Chu-Young, who has over 50 caps for South Korea, has attracted interest from several clubs in England including Liverpool and Fulham.

Capable of playing as a second striker, Chu-Young’s work ethic and energy has made him one of the biggest stars in the French football.

A fee of around £3million has been touted for the Daegu-born player, who is expected to have a medical at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground later today.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that the club are in the market for a new striker, because he ‘knows’ frontman Nicklas Bendtner will leave before the transfer window closes next Wednesday.

A move out of the Emirates Stadium has been mooted for the 23-year-old striker since the end of last season, with several enquries already being made for the Dane this summer.

“We look for one more striker because we know he [Bendtner] will leave and we will be short”, Wenger told reporters in his Friday press conference.

Bendtner’s departure would leave Arsenal with just three natural strikers; Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Marouane Chamakh, although youngsters Ryo Miyaichi, Joel Campbell and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are more less-proven options upfront.

Meanwhile, the Gunners have had a bid rejected by Bolton for defender Gary Cahill who is in the final year of his contract with Owen Coyle’s team.

Trotters boss Coyle said earlier today the two clubs are a big distance apart in terms of their valuation of Cahill.