Arsenal Transfer Window Update

By Nick Lander

Summer 2012 was expected to be a busy one at Arsenal, but with only 25 days of the transfer window left, there are still a number of players remaining at the club who were expected to leave, in addition, there have only been two arrivals so far. In this article, we will give you the latest on all the players expected to depart - or already departed - as well as giving you the latest on any new signings.

Goalkeeping Departures:

Both Vito Mannone and Lukasz Fabianski were expected to find new clubs this summer, Mannone was very close to a move to Hull City before they changed managers. Steve Bruce was still interested in the Italian, but Arseanl's price tag is believed to have put him off. The Tigers still have not signed a goalkeeper, so Mannone's move may yet materialise.

Fabianski was very public about his desire to move on from the club at the end of last season. The Pole lost both Arsenal and Poland #1 jerseys to Wojciech Szczesney and endured a miserable 2011/12, spending most of the season on the bench. There has been no concrete interest reported from any clubs, and it is looking increasingly likely that Fabianski will be set for an undesired further season at Arsenal.

Manuel Almunia was released by the club at the end of 2011/12 and has now signed for Gianfranco Zola's Watford, where he will be hoping for a strong NPower Championship campaign.

Defensive Departures:

Sebastien Squillaci was expected to depart the club, and despite some early interest from a number of French clubs, the experienced centre half is still at the club. It is believed that the Frenchman's wage demands have put off many suitors, with Arsenal only seeking a nominal fee. Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, confirmed last week that he still expects Squillaci to have moved on by the end of August.

Johan Djourou had also been linked with a departure, and it was believed that there was some strong Italian interest in the Swiss, but he strongly denied that he was seeking a move away on his Twitter feed, and it does seem that he will remain at Arsenal for the next season at least. He endured a forgettable campaign last term, featuring mostly at right back and will be hoping for better things, in his preferred centre back position, this season.

Midfield Departures:

There had been some suggestion that time would be called on Abou Diaby's stop-start Arsenal career this summer, but Wenger appears to be giving his compatriot one last chance to prove that he can stay fit for an entire season, otherwise Diaby's career in North London is surely going to be over.

Andrei Arshavin spent the second half of 2011/12 on loan at Zenit St Petersburg who had been expected to make that transfer permanent, but some comments made after Russia's disappointing Euro 2012 campaign have severely damaged his reputation in Russia, and cooled Zenit's interest. There has been speculation that he could remain in the Premier League, with both Fulham and QPR linked, but it may be that he has a future with the Gunners, after Wenger said he would have talks with the diminutive playmaker. He may remain as a squad player or he may yet depart.

Brazillian Denilson is a player who Arsenal have been trying to offload for two summers now, they could only manage to loan him to Sao Paulo in 2011, and this year have done the same again, after they could not persuade the Brazillian club to part with a satisfactory fee for the 25 year old.

Departing Strikers:

Nicklas Bendtner spent 2011/12 on loan in the North East, with Sunderland, after the club were unable to find a buyer for him in Summer 2011. He enjoyed a successful Euro 2012, after a so-so season, which has raised interest on the continent, however despite his agent saying in June how in demand Bendtner was, he is still at the club in August. Wenger has said he wants the Dane to move on, so if Arsenal are, again, thwarted  in their quest to sell him, expect Bendtner to head back off on loan.

Park Ju-Young must go down as one of Wenger's worst buys, after six appearances and one goal, Wenger has confirmed that the South Korean's future lies elsewhere. There have been murmurs of interest from QPR and from the Middle East. He has been part of the South Korea squad that has reached the semi-finals of the Olympic football competition, so he is unlikely to move anywhere before the competition finishes, his could be a last minute departure.

Marouane Chamakh had been linked with a move away, with clubs in Italy, France and Turkey said to be interested, but nothing has materialised, and having lead the Arsenal attack during the Asia tour, the Moroccan seems set for at least another season at the Emirates, in which he will hope to get more game time than over the last season and a half.

Robin van Persie revealed his desire to leave in a controversial statement at the beginning of July, but despite missing Arsenal's Asia Tour and offers from Juventus and both Manchester clubs the Dutchman still remains at Arsenal. Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini today conceded defeat in the race to sign van Persie, and Juventus' position has been considerably weakened after their manager Antonio Conte became embroiled in the latest match-fixing scandal to blight Serie A. Manchester United remain interested, but are unwilling to match the Gunners' £20m asking price. There is a growing possibility that van Persie will remain an Arsenal player in September.

Carlos Vela has already left the club, joining Real Sociedad for somewhere in the region of £6m. Arsenal are understood to have included both buy-back and a 50% sell on clauses in the deal. Vela endured a frustrating few years at Arsenal, never quite living up to his potential, but he seems to have found a home in La Liga.

Joel Cambell has also headed for Spain. Despite a successful season in Ligue 1 with Lorient and breaking into the Costa Rican team, the young striker has again been denied a work permit, so will spend the campaign with Real Betis, before hoping to finally make his Arsenal debut in 2013/14.

Benik Afobe has headed off to Lancashire, to spend the season on loan at Bolton Wanderers. A well trodden path during Owen Coyle's tenure there, Afobe will be hoping to impress this term, before trying to challenge for the first team next season.

Incoming Players:

All of Arsenal's strengthening so far this summer has been in attacking positions, with strikers Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski arriving at the club from Montpellier and FC Köln respectively. Tall, good in the air and solid with his feet, Giroud had a fantastic season on the way to the Ligue 1 title in 2011/12. He will be hoping to carry that form across into the Premier League, as he makes yet another step up, having worked his way through the top three divisions in France so far.

Lukas Podolski's 2011/12 was far more forgettable. He played at a good level, but suffered the despair of relegation as his sweet left foot was unable to keep FC Köln in the German top flight. Currently without a squad number, Podolski is hankering after van Persie's number 10 shirt, and will be hoping to lead the line as effectively as the Dutchman did last season. If RVP does stay with the Gunners, Podolski will be an option wide left.

Malaga's financial troubles have meant that their stars are there to be bought at bargain basement prices. Salomon Rondon has already joined Russian side Rubin Kazan and farewell Tweets have already been sent to Santi Cazorla who is understood to have joined Arsenal, although his transfer is yet to be formally announced by either club.
6/8/2012 21:00GMT Update: BBC Sport have reported that Cazorla is in Germany with the squad for a pre-season training camp and friendly against FC Köln (which was part of the Podolski deal) and will be formally announced on Tuesday.

Another player who is likely to join is Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin, who has been told by Real Madrid that he can go out on loan for the season. With Jack Wilshere out until at least October, Wenger is interested in bringing Sahin into his squad for the season. If it does materialise, this will likely be completed in the next couple of weeks.

So, despite the expectations for this to be one of the busiest summers of the Wenger era, things have been fairly quiet at the Emirates, with only two players certainly joining the club, and just Carlos Vela leaving the club permanently and for a fee. The rest of the month promises to be interesting as Arsenal ramp up their preparations for the new season.

Confirmed Departures:

Benik Afobe to Bolton Wanderers [Season Loan]

Manuel Almunia to Watford [Free]

Joel Campbell to Real Betis [Season Loan]

Denilson to Sao Paulo [Season Loan]

Carlos Vela to Real Sociedad [Undisclosed est. £6m]

Confirmed Arrivals:

Olivier Giroud from Montpellier [Undisclosed]

Lukas Podolski from FC Köln [Undisclosed]