A new signing!

Here we are, then, the ridiculous furore over one Cesc Fàbregas is over for now, and on behalf of Arsenal Football Club and manager Arsène Wenger, I would like to be the first in claiming that retaining Cesc's services are just like securing a new signing.

Not only that, but in keeping with the cheerful spirit, let's also say that having Johan Djourou and Samir Nasri fit and available from the beginning of the campaign are also very much along the "new signing" mould.

What truly stuck me not so long after Cesc's statement committing his future to the Club on Members' day, was the sheer amount of cynicism and scepticism. Cynicism from Arsenal supporters, no less, claiming that they cannot forgive Cesc and have fallen out of love with him for "what he has done this summer" and that here is a player "held against his will".

Well I'm sorry folks, but it's time to get real.

We wanted the guy to stay, whether it was out of spite of Barcelona's truly pathetic actions throughout the summer, or, sticking to football for a second, whether it was because we would be losing a truly great player; our Captain and talisman on and off the pitch. He is now staying and raring to fight, having stated that, although he would have liked to have joined Barcelona; his hometown club, he loves Arsenal and everything the Club stand for, owing the manager and fans for who he is today and vowing to be 100% committed to the cause throughout the coming season.

What more do we want, exactly?

In one quick statement he has reaffirmed his commitment to the Club, whilst emphasising the important role the supporters have played in all of this. True, the timing of the statement may well suggest that Cesc was holding out for a move for as long as possible. But, thinking about it, we cannot actually be sure of that, especially considering that he was in South Africa and then on holiday up until Thursday!

Then you have the people who, despite describing their undoubted joy at the news, have an increasingly overriding feeling that he is definitely on his way next year, some going as far as claiming that he is already thinking about Barcelona in 2011 so much that we will be watching a different animal altogether on the pitch.

Focusing on the latter point, what bollocks! Fàbregas went to the World Cup with this circus very much at its peak, was on the bench throughout, and had to deal with the media on an almost daily basis. And the result? Total and utter professionalism and steadfast decision-making from our man (apart from a suspect-looking beard early on, that is), doing his utmost to help his team win when eventually called upon, and arguably saving his best to the very last, setting up Spain's World Cup winner against the Dutch.

Cesc has made it clear that he owes it to us, and that he will give his all, and from what we have know of him and have seen of him over the years, we must believe in him just as he believes in us. I, for one, know that he will go out and play against Barcelona on a broken leg again next year if he could, with the desire for Arsenal to come out on top next time.

As for Wenger and the Club's role in holding onto Cesc, well this is a true example of dignity and steadfast confidence in your stance and principles, and for that they should be congratulated and commended. The Club stood their ground with an admirable and almost arrogant silence from the very first moment stories broke out in mid-May, through to a clear and succinct statement of dismissal of Barcelona's paltry transfer bid on 2nd June, to the manager's brushing off of the "meaningless noise".

Some see it that we have simply forced Cesc to stay, and have been very keen to parallel the scenario to that of Cristiano Ronaldo's two years ago. To those people I only say one thing: next year is not written in stone, and in that sense we cannot be sure of what will happen, whereas any talk of pre-contract agreements with Barcelona is just rubbish. That is not to say that they will not be back for more of the same next summer. But who knows, the Catalans could very well crumble into non-existence under a mountain of crippling debt and dodgy transfer dealings (if only!). More realistically, Fàbregas might realise his ambitions and dreams here at Arsenal, convincing him that this is his home after all (I'll come onto that in a tick). Not to mention that Wenger has never held any player, no matter how important, against his will: from Marc Overmars to Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry, as well as individuals who do not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as these true Arsenal greats.

If Cesc really wanted to leave he would've left, make no mistake about that, and that will always be the case at Arsenal, as not one soul is bigger than the Club.

Now that Cesc is staying, and now that I have passed my congratulations to the stellar efforts of Arsène Wenger and the Club (and carrying out the "new signing" announcement rituals on Le Boss' behalf), a request to Mr. Wenger. And a few words of warning.

There are nine days left for our Anfield opener, twenty-five days to the end of the transfer window. You have persuaded our best players to stay, have had a satisfactory pre-season, and have the Club in a healthy financial position. It is high time to repay Cesc's (and others') belief that he can win things at Arsenal and that we mean business for this season. The first team squad is in good shape, but no more than that. And being good is just not good enough for titles, I'm afraid.

It is time to bolster the squad with the sort of players in defence and in goal to match the calibres of the likes of Cesc Fàbregas, Robin van Persie, Andrey Arshavin etc. It is time to justify Cesc's decision, and to provide the Club and the supporters with the perfect tonic in arming the squad with the necessary ammunition to brush off the nearly men tag, that tag that had irked Cesc so much it made him think of leaving.

Now that we have celebrated Cesc's commitment today, let's go all out tomorrow for those signings, Arsène. Please. Enough faffing around.

Some REAL new signings, please.

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