Some papers this morning have questioned whether Hughes and his benefactors acted quickly and smartly having known that Barry is one holding player available to many this summer, Arsenal included.
They, in turn, questioned whether Wenger had been caught napping in Barry's pursuit, suggesting that we have been beaten by a knockout blow without even throwing any punches ourselves, a pleasant change indeed for City-supporting Ricky the "Hitman" Hatton, I suppose!
Whatever happened, this is one player we all know we would've dearly loved in our side, and, whilst we didn't sign him will serve further difficulty in strengthening this summer, it will also, damagingly, serve to strengthen City in their pursuit of a top-four place, where we sit least comfortably, as none of us will need reminding of course!
Not that Wenger was probably interested in all the hype surrounding Barry within the media or amongst Arsenal circles, which, if it is the case, and that is indeed probable, then we should not feel hard-done by or outsmarted at all.
Shouldn't we? I asked whether you were jealous at the string of big name speculations flying all over the place at the top earlier, and yes, whilst we do have some world class talent ourselves, it is not near enough, and this has been established over the course of the last one to four seasons of course!
And with the clubs doing big business at the highest level, not least Real Madrid, with the return of Perez seemingly setting the way for another Galacticos era anyway (where does Perez get all his money from by the way?), it is only fair to assume that we have been doing our very own rummaging in the transfer market, with Le Boss hoping to acquire that missing one or two links to gazump us from fourth to first somehow!
Enter Blaise Matuidi, who, until just over a quarter of an hour ago, I did not know what he looked like, nor where he even played. But I can tell you this: I wasn't entirely surprised when I found that he is indeed one of Wenger's all-time favourite types of player.
Now, as he good as he might be, and of course he may well be, and I'm also sure that many Saint Etienne fans will hold him in high regard indeed (not that I know any), this is not quite the "big name" that Gooners will have had in mind with Wenger pointing to experience and class at the end of a another failure of a season.
At 22, and having never played for a decent club—St. Etienne have survived in France's top flight by just a solitary point—I highly doubt that he is the sort of player I can see winning us matchups against Carrick, Mascherano/Alonso, or Essien, and subsequently, trophies, and I'm sure many of you will agree!
Yet again, it seems, Wenger has bought our love and support at the end of a harrowing season, not least for him personally, sweet-talking us into believing his talk of experience and quality additions, and whilst the proper big clubs (along with a few wannabees in City) actually go out and act true to their word, we are getting big-name, big-frame, quality Blaise Matuidi in! Charming!
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