It was made official yesterday: Arsenal have accepted a 24 million pound bid for Robin Van Persie from Manchester United, he will complete his move tomorrow. This brings to an end Arsenal’s latest transfer saga involving a star player, though perhaps with a better ending than previous summers (more on that later). What’s more, Alex Song has been told he can leave the club for Barcelona, due to his disgusting attitude in training lately since he was linked.

This has seemingly thrown Arsenal into disarray yet again, with two of last year’s “stars” leaving the club. People are questioning the club’s ambition and direction, and the future of Arsene Wenger, the board, the tea lady and the borough of Islington.

Fear not, ladies and gentleman, for coming now are 10 solid BUSINESS and FOOTBALLING reasons why Arsenal have got the best out of these departures.

(I’m running on the assumption Song has gone for around 18M, btw).

Here we go:

1. Arsenal have recouped a total of 42 million pounds from this transfer, already wiping out the cash they’ve spent on our three signings so far. The transfer kitty of 40m is still present, and Wenger has stated that Arsenal “still have an eye on the market”.

2. Arsene Wenger has confirmed Arsenal are after a replacement striker, by saying they aren’t. Wenger claimed he had replaced Van Persie to French TV last night, with Podolski and Giroud, but this is the same man who didn’t know who Cazorla was, two weeks before he signed.

3. In Song and Van Persie, Arsenal had two players who didn’t want to be at the club, which was apparently fairly clear in training. Now they’re gone, Arsenal can be clear and focused on their training and preparations, with no distractions and a shared enthusiasm for success at Arsenal.

4. Arsenal signed Robin Van Persie for 2.75 million in 2004, and have now sold him for 24. This is more than 8 times his original worth.

5. Arsenal bought Alex Song for 500k in 2006, and will sell him for 18. This is 36 TIMES his original worth.

6. Neither player will make the same impact at their new team.

7. Arsenal are now rid of the blight of Darren Dein at their club. Embittered by his father’s departure, Dein engineered the moves away of Clichy, Adebayor, Fabregas, Nasri, Song, and partially represented Van Persie. He can no longer twist Arsenal players minds into leaving, especially with him being banned from Arsenal events.

8. Last year, Arsenal had no real attacking outlet apart from Van Persie. When he was having an off day, or defences phased him out, Arsenal struggled for goals, though some were delivered (Arsenal had more individual goalscorers than any other team in the PL last term). With their new strike force of Podolski, Giroud and a possible new addition, Arsenal are not reliant on a single man and have a plethora of striking options, whether it be the speedy directness of Podolski or the skilful, physical aerial presence of Giroud.

9. As for Alex Song, he became a more attacking presence last year, at the expense of his defensive duties. He wasn’t responsible entirely for Arsenal’s 49 goals conceded last year, but he didn’t help. With the purchase of Cazorla, it seemed more likely that Song would be asked to sit back and defend more, a duty now seemingly left to a new defensive midfielder (or Arteta in a Makelele role).

10. Arsene Wenger is still at the club. As long as he is, we’ll never fall out of the top 4. UTA.

Thank you for your time. See you tomorrow.

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