There was no salt rubbed in the wounds for the Gunners as Higuian did nothing of note during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Napoli at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Arsenal’s number one transfer target, Gonzalo Higuain, chose to join Napoli as Arsenal, being their miserly self, were unable to agree a deal with Real Madrid for his signature.

Even though the club have their all new ‘financial firepower,’ they were unwilling to spend more than £25 million for the prolific forward, with Madrid ultimately selling the 25-year-old to Napoli for £30 million.

With the dust on Higuain settled, Arsenal focused all their attention (read: money) on Liverpool’s controversial yet supremely talented Luis Suarez, who is still to serve six matches of his suspension for that infamous bite.

Arsenal have submitted two bids for the Uruguayan, the latest being an offer of £40 million plus £1, but both were swiftly rejected by the Reds. Brendan Rodgers has today claimed that the Reds value Suarez close to the market value of Tottenham Hotspurs’ Gareth Bale, rumoured to be valued around £85 million by Real Madrid.

You would agree when I say that there is no chance Arsenal offers that kind of money for Suarez, and even Wenger has said that if such a monstrous bid is indeed accepted by Spurs, it would make a mockery out of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations which have come into force from this season onwards.

However, while Arsenal and even other clubs do need to mind the FFP rules, the Gunners really need to accept the reality that without spending big in the transfer window, they really won’t be able to stop the dust which has been settling on their trophy cabinet since the past eight years.

Sure, they performed admirably at the back end of last season but there are still chinks in the armour which need mending. And if quality purchases are not bought, which usually require big money, you can forget about success for Arsenal next year.