The final day of the transfer window has approached all of us, and Arsenal have been linked with a few more players, with Michael Essien the most interesting of them all. The Gunners are also reportedly on the verge of completing a move for Ajax right-back Gregory Van der Wiel while Nicklas Bendtner finally seems to be on his way out of the Emirates, with the striker poised to agree a deal with Juventus.
According to widespread reports in the English press, Arsene Wenger has sounded out Chelsea over a possible season-long loan move for Essien. Having already taken Yossi Benayoun on loan last year on transfer deadline day, Wenger is hoping for another swoop for a player from their London rivals.
Essien has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, with Roberto Di Matteo preferring John Obi Mikel and Oriol Romeu to the Ghana international as his defensive midfield option. Essien was reported to be on his way to Turkish club Fenerbahce, but Wenger has made a last-minute enquiry about a possible move.
It is understood, Essien would prefer to stay in London and Chelsea would be willing to let go of their midfielder to Arsenal if the Gunners are willing to pay the player's entire salary for the season, believed to be £100,000 a week (158,000).
However, according to the French press Newcastle United defensive midfielder Cheick Tiote is on the verge of a move to Arsenal. Reports in France suggest that a deal has been already agreed for the Ivorian, with the signing to be announced soon. Wenger has already ruled out a move for Tiote, saying he was not interested in bringing the player to the Emirates, but if one would take what Wenger says on face value, Arsenal would never have bought anyone in any transfer window.
While Tiote has done well for Newcastle, his technical ability in the ball is a bit suspect, which makes one wonder how he would cope at Arsenal, if the reports indeed turn out to be true, which, again, is a big if.
Tiote is a ball-winning midfielder, who likes to keep it simple and make the short passes, leaving the creative players to do their jobs, a player that a section of the Arsenal fans have been crying out for. Essien is an equally good ball-winning midfielder, but with a far superior technical ability; the only worry for the Ghanaian though are injuries. If Essien can stay injury-free for the entire season, a loan move with a view to make it permanent at the end of the season would be a better option to Tiote.
Meanwhile, reports in Holland suggest Van der Wiel could move to Arsenal before the transfer window shuts on Friday night. Arsenal are a little thin in the right-back department with Bakary Sagna still out injured. While youngster Carl Jenkinson has filled in rather well in the first two games, Wenger might be keen to bolster that department.
Bendtner will fly to Italy for a medical Friday morning, after which he will complete a move to Juventus, if all goes according to plan. "For Bendtner we are nearly there," sporting director Beppe Marrotta told Sky Italia. "Tomorrow (Friday) there will be a medical and then if all goes well the contract signing."
With Bendtner likely to leave, that leaves the likes of Park Chu-Young, Marouane Chamakh and Sebastian Squillaci, who are also expected to leave before the close of the transfer window.
It does look like some signings will be made by Wenger, but equally interesting will be whether Arsenal can offload some of the high-earning members.
