Arsene is now claiming to be looking for a forward. I assume it has nothing to do with transfers but that he just realized Gervinho was gone.
I think it would be interesting to take a look at the need for new players in a medium to long term perspective, say 3-5 years. Wenger has just tied down a core of players that might stay their whole carreer. I think this is very important, and explains a lot of the strong culture of ManU. Assuming that in 5 years Arsenal will field a loyal and committed bunch of Wilshere (world class by then), Walcott (not world class but solid), Ramsey (might be a very solid player in the Arteta role), Ox (could be world class), Jenks (Very, very good RB - best rb in the league?), Gibbs (best LB in the league?), Verm and Kosc (solid and experienced at the end of carreer), Szcz... (Top 10 in the world). So what do we need? A potential world class CB, an incarnated Cazorla and a striker...? What do you think?
I honestly don't see why he wouldn't be good enough. He at worst would be a Diaby with better defensive ability and less injury issues in exchange for a less polished decision making. He's 25 years old and still has some room for learning. Even if he's not good enough to be a starter he would be a very good squad player on our bench that we can call upon to add some steel when we need to close out games. The only major issue I can think of is that he apparently has heart issues, but he's cheap for that reason.
I think you are making a huge assumption that those players will stay in the medium to long term. Walcott already was prepared to leave. Verm and Kos have no real connection to the club, Sczc talked about leaving before he became #1, so his loyalty has to be questioned. Jenks and Wilshere seem to be Arsenal fans, so maybe they'll think hard before leaving, but... you never know. Players at this level are competitive by nature, so they will want to win on the field and make loads of money off the field, so they can keep up with their friends. And to be honest, most of their friends probably are going to be other celebrities or athletes since they are the types who can relate to being so young and rich, to dealing with the paparazzi and fans and all of the other stuff they deal with in their life.
Gibbs is out three weeks w/ a thigh strain. http://news.arseblog.com/2013/01/gibbs-to-miss-three-weeks-with-thigh-strain/
I'm starting to wonder if the shear amount of wages we pay to people who never see the field is the prime reason we won't sign anyone. Between Arshavin, Squillaci, Denilson, Chamahk, Bendtner, Fabianski, Djourou, Park, Frimpong, etc. (I'm assuming we pay some of the wages for those listed who are out on loan), how many tens (or hundreds) of thousands per week that could be spent on a new player is wrapped up in the players that Arsene has made clear he will never, ever play again? Someone who knows the ins and out of wages for players on loan is welcome to prove me wrong....
What's all this nonsense about Jenkinson being loan out? If not a rumor, dose Wenger know that our squad is thin enough as it is?
This window could be pivotal for Arsenal. Fail to sign anyone->fail to finish top 4->slip into mediocrity.
I think the doomsday crowd is overstating things a bit. We're 4 pts behind Tottenham in 4th and 3 pts behind Everton in 5th. Everyone has 2 league games before the international break. Arsenal have Stoke at home and Sunderland away. Spurs have West Brom away and Newcastle at home. Everton have Villa at home and Man United away. 2 wins would probably have Arsenal just 1 or 2 pts away from 4th. March kicks off with back-to-back "6 pointers" against Spurs and Everton. That's where 4th place will be won or lost.
At this point, I think Arsene's declaration (that he was going to be active in January) was a ploy to inject desire in the team to perform. Else, I don't see why it's deadline day and there haven't been any moves yet. All this while, the competitors for the 4th spot are finding ways (and some succeeding) to improve their squads. Frustrating times indeed.