I wouldn't put it past Wenger to actually do that. Wait until we get into the CL and then finalize a couple of deals. It makes zero sense that we haven't signed anyone yet. ZERO

presumably it would be the player who's waiting to see if we make it. then again, this is bizarro wenger we're talking about.

We're desperately short in the creative department, so I hope this works out.

France seems to think the M'vila story has legs. I know he is highly rated and I haven't seen him play that regularly but he doesn't strike me as being that good. Opinions?

I haven't seen much of him myself, but there are too many people who talk highly of him for him not to be quality. I've seen him compared to Vieira a few times, would those of you who have seen him often say he's reminiscent of old Paddy?

More like Petit or Gilberto than Vieira from the little I've seen.

Has looked like a poor Gilberto to me too.

To put it another way, he has never looked as accomplished as Frimpong did against Liverpool yesterday.

I know I'm in a minority but in my opinion Coquelin looks like a bigger talent, and we've got him already. Give the lad another year of first team football out on loan somewhere and he'll challenge for a place at Arsenal. M'Vila is a solid player but he's not reminiscent of any Vieira that I ever saw, and he's never struck me as someone you'd spend £20 million on. And even if he might justify that kind of fee in the future he doesn't at the moment.

I'm with you on Coquelin Klaus. But where the hell is he at the moment? The last time I heard anything about him, we were trying to convert him to RB (goodness know why).

He played the full ninety yesterday as France got beaten by Mexico in the U-20 World Cup. He's been one of their best players in the tournament apparently.

Not sure what the rightback experiment was about either. Perhaps he was just a bit easier than the likes of Eastmond to move around at the time. He did pretty well as a midfielder on loan to Lorient last season though. Gourcuff is eager to get him back this year. I think it'll be his breakthrough season in that case.

M'Vila has always looked more of a reader of the game than the juggernaut that Vieira was or someone like Frimpong is. More Gilberto Silva or Xabi Alonso.

Like I said though, I haven't seen too much of him, and I have seen the Vieira comparison from a few different people now.

Dula, you love M'Vila don't you? Tell us about him Per-lease.

Not seen lots and lots of him, but from the games I've seen him he's definitely a disciplined reader of the game with decent technique. Certainly not the crash bang wallop type of player. The role that gilberto played for brazil at the 2002 world cup is similar.

He'll spot and snuff out fires and is happy to sit and let others play. Nothing rash about his play. Would work well with jack alongside him or with song or frimpong

Slightly less tanacious but more athletic masherano probably best describes him

Now yes cos I think we need more numbers. He would improve us but he wouldn't be my first choice given the outlay required. I'd chase javi Martinez banega or montolivo before him. Our inability to construct smooth passing moves worried me the most yesterday.

Jack van Gercott wrote:

I'd chase javi Martinez banega or montolivo before him. Our inability to construct smooth passing moves worried me the most yesterday.

Pretty much this. I'm all for getting more quality into the squad, but selling the world's most creative midfielder and replacing him with an unproven youngster who specialises in breaking up play doesn't seem very pragmatic. Our attack can't buy a goal right now, let alone create one. Even when taking into account that Wilshere is due a return soon we'll still need a top class player that can contribute in the creative end, and we need him quickly. M'Vila is not that player.