I remember the January transfer deadline of 2009 well. Heavy snow had landed me a day off school and the transfer window an extension. It lasted until a couple of days into February, and I was on tenterhooks, for Arsenal were working on that most unusual of things-a marquee signing.

The star of Euro 2008 and much-in-demand playmaker Andrei Arshavin, was headed to Arsenal. I remember watching him be unveiled, and complaining about his shirt number. 23 was too high, Gallas should give up the number 10 shirt, I remember opining.

We began the summer (11 days ago) with high hopes of signing a ‘top-level’ striker to replace Robin Van Persie.

Our ears were filled with sweet noises of Stevan Jovetic and Gonzalo Higuain. Even Wayne Rooney was a possibility.

However, just over a week later, people are beginning to lose their minds.

Jovetic and Higuain appear set to move to Juventus, who have decided to hoard strikers just to annoy us. Rooney is still possible, but a faint dream.

A frequent caveat in transfer stories pertaining to Arsenal of late, has been ‘as long as they qualify for the Champions League’. Various big name players could join the club, just as long as 4th spot is secured.

Well, now that requirement is fulfilled, Arsenal can look to the summer transfer window properly, and begin planning how best to strengthen the squad for bigger and better things.

If you read the papers, or even if you don’t, you should be aware that Arsenal are at varying degrees of closeness to a deal for Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic.

The Montenegrin forward will either be joining imminently or waiting for Arsenal’s Champions League status to be decided.

There’s a lot of excitement over this transfer, but there are a few question marks over his abilities. Is he the world-class forward Arsenal need?

This isn’t a blog about fashion tips or hairstyles, though I do think Jack should do something about all those tattoos.

There’s been a lot of debate on the Twitter and Blogospheres, especially with the recent flood of surprise transfer news in Europe, about what players Arsenal should be targeting, in what positions, and how they should be set up.

Shortlist

Arsenal have circulated a shortlist of positions they’re targeting in the summer to agents around Europe. There are two conflicting versions of this list, but they are definitely targeting these positions:

Goalkeeper, Right-back, Centre-back, Striker.