Are Arsenal leaving it late again in the transfer window?

While other clubs and managers in the Premier League have been pushing ahead with their summer recruitment strategy, it seems Arsene Wenger is more content on the beach, having been snapped in Brazil playing football with local fans.

Chelsea have snapped up Cesc Fabregas, and are on the verge of tying up a deal for Diego Costa. Brendan Rodgers is well under way with his plans, having brought in Rickie Lambert, Emre Can and now top target Adam Lallana. Possibly most impressive is Louis van Gaal who has steered Netherlands to the quarter-finals at the World Cup, and managed to negotiate the acquisitions of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw from afar. Even Premier League champions Manchester City have signed midfielder Fernando for £12m from Porto, and Bacary Sagna, with the Frenchman out-of-contract at the Emirates.

To be an Arsenal fan in the transfer window must be more frustrating than trying to book a holiday in term time before the kids break up, to get it cheaper, while dealing with complaints from teachers.

Wenger, though, has always portrayed a demeanour of a certain self-assuredness, and he is probably an expert in psychology. When all appeared lost at the end of last summer, he pulled off a coup that made the rest of the footballing world stand still.

The manner in which he signed Mesut Ozil was nothing short of a tactical master-stroke. Charming him in German lubricated the start of the deal-making process. Dangling the carrot of playing with fellow nationals Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski tapped into the player’s emotions. Offering him the star role in a team that was going to challenge for the title in an arena built for mega-stars of the modern-day gladiatorial ilk proved to be the sweetener.

In the background, work will be being carried out to ensure Arsenal land who they want, whether they are right for the Gunners or not. They are reportedly on the verge of signing Newcastle United right back Mathieu Debuchy, currently on World Cup duty with France, to replace Sagna.

Other targets include Chilean duo Alexis Sanchez, who has spoken of his desire to join Arsenal, and Arturo Vidal. Wenger is a big fan of the latter, seeing him as one of the best midfielders around. It is more likely that they will land Morgan Schneiderlin of Southampton, though, as Vidal is reportedly willing to snub Arsenal as well as Chelsea in favour of a move to Old Trafford. Regarding Sanchez, his situation depends on the execution of Barcelona’s recruitment plans.