Arsenal lost out on yet another target after Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa signed for Newcastle United, leaving the Gooners wondering if Arsene Wenger is even going to make a single signing in January.
Yanga-Mbiwa, thought to be of interest to Arsenal for a while, signed a five-and-a-half year contract with the Magpies after completing his move from Montpellier, by passing a medical, as Alan Pardew finally clinched a vital signing, who could prove to be a major factor in staving off relegation worries.
Newcastle are also on the verge of bringing in forward Yoann Gouffran from Bordeaux, as a replacement for Demba Ba, who signed for Chelsea.
Arsenal's business, or lack of it, has been strange this month, with the club clearly in need of reinforcements. A defensive midfielder, a position which Yanga-Mbiwa can play in, is of utmost importance, as is the need to bring in a striker capable of putting away the chances.
The Gunners could have easily clinched the signing of Yanga-Mbiwa had they matched Newcastle's hardly inflated fee of £6.7 million ($10.6 million); however, either Wenger has other plans or just does not plan to bring in anyone, with Theo Walcott signing a new contract.
"It is an honor to be able to come to Newcastle United and have the chance to play in the Premier League," Yanga-Mbiwa told the club's official website.
"Newcastle are one of the biggest clubs in the league, and I'm going to try and give everything I have so that the team can do well.
"I have experienced a lot of positive things so far in my career and one of those is joining this club."
Wenger said last week that most of the signings in January happen in the final week, with a further emphasis on the last 48 hours.
"Yes (I still want two signings). We work very hard on it," Wenger said. "It is not the number that counts but the quality.
"I don't give you any names. I don't come out on rumours because it would put (teams) in a bad position. The player as well.
"You have to respect the player has a contract somewhere, is playing and as long as the transfer is not done for anybody it is best not to talk about it because it doesn't work. He has to continue to play where he is."
The moves for Adrian Lopez or Alvaro Negredo might have been a little bit of smoke and mirrors to just make Walcott sign on the dotted line, although there is still serious interest in David Villa, if Barcelona agree to a move.
Or Wenger might still have a couple of aces up his sleeve; whether he pulls them out or decides to keep them until the summer, only the next eight days or so will tell.
