So, Arsene Wenger has finally decided to listen to all those around him and spend his way out of the mire he and his team find themselves in.
After the weekend's 8-2 drubbing by Manchester United, it is now clearer than ever before that Arsenal need to reinforce their back line with quality defenders - something they should have done a long time ago.
So, with just 24 hours to go before the transfer window closes, Wenger has turned his attentions to Germany defender Per Mertesacker and Brazil left-back Andre Santos.
He could do a lot worse, considering the time constraints.
Mertesacker is what the Gunners have been crying out for: an international defender with bags of European and international experience who is confident with the ball at his feet and who is unlikely to lose his head under pressure.
He isn't even that old - still just 26 - yet he is a veteran of some 75 Germany caps and he has won third-place medals at two World Cups.
Standing at 6ft 6in, he is a commanding presence at the back, yet despite his height he is far from clumsy in the tackle. Indeed, he has a reputation in the Bundesliga for being a clean tackler and is rarely on the wrong side of the referee.
Typically for a German, the Werder Bremen player is well-organised, professional and more than capable of whipping the Gunners' back line into shape. Laurent Koscielny just doesn't have the same standing.
In other words, Mertesacker is just what Arsenal need at the moment.
Santos, should he go to the Emirates, would perhaps be less of an impact player, but considering Gael Clichy has already departed, Kieran Gibbs is injured and Armand Traore has just been sold to QPR, bringing in cover in the left-back position before the window closes is absolutely essential.
Like Mertesacker, Santos has a good pedigree, boasting 22 Brazil caps and Champions League experience with Turkish side Fenerbahce, and the 28-year-old would bring some much needed know-how to the Gunners' defence.
Looking further forward, Arsenal have already secured the services of striker Park Chu-Young and while the South Korean will not be expected to turn things around for Arsenal, for a squad player costing £4 million he seems a typically astute bit of Wenger business.
But there is still the question of a midfielder to fill the creative void left by the departure of Samir Nasri. Step forward Yossi Benayoun, perhaps the only quality midfielder on the continent not seeing regular action for his current club and who may consider a move to the Emirates.
These players must be Wenger's priorities on this final day of transfer dealings. If he can seal deals for all three and rather belatedly begin his rebuilding project, perhaps this season is not yet lost for Arsenal.
The clock is ticking.
Brian Wilson Eli Whiteside Mike Fontenot Brett Pill Pat Burrell Jhan Marinez
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