The longest saga of this or any other transfer window finally came to an end last night - a full 24 hours after the deadline for deals had elapsed - when Arsenal were able to confirm the capture of Andrei Arshavin.

The 27-year-old is either the club's most expensive signing ever or he was a bargain - or both - depending on which news report you believe, but whatever the truth is, I for one am glad he's now a Gunner because us Addicts are in need of a bit of good news.

Any Gooners hoping to see at first hand exactly what we've shelled out all those millions for, could be in for a bit of a wait though, as Andrei is believed to be back in Russia today tidying up loose ends.

More to the point, he's doing what he has to do to get a work permit so that he can play football in England.

That hiccup, as well as the fact that the Russian playmaker is not match fit, could mean that we won't see him in an Arsenal strip until the FA Cup replay against Cardiff on February 16...