EPL Transfer News: The 5 Biggest Winners from Transfer Deadline Day

So one of the most exciting days of the season has finally finished.

Now comes the chance to analyse the results.  

There may have been no goals scored, no games won or lost but that's not to say transfer deadline day isn't filled with excitement: hoping your best player does not leave, or frantically checking new reports for confirmation of that perfect new signing.

Another beauty of transfer deadline day is its unpredictability. One minute your friend swears that his father's brother's nephew who works as a cab driver dropped off an international striker in Manchester, the next minute the same guy signs for Milan.

Now the dust has settled, we know which teams have filled their needs and which fans will be frustrated knowing they are stuck with what they have until the next window in January.

Here we look at the five biggest winners from transfer deadline day.

5. Shaun Wright-Phillips

Pint-sized playmaker Shaun Wright-Phillips had become one of a number of players forgotten amidst the Manchester City Revolution.

While world-class stars have been arriving at Eastlands in what appears to be a relentless tide, the England international winger has been buried on the depth chart and largely forgotten by fans of both City and England.

Not only has this move granted Wright-Phillips a career lifeline, he has entered a similar scenario to that which has been seen at City.

Queens Park Rangers swooped to sign Wright-Phillips on deadline day, and he joins Joey Barton, Anton Ferdinand and a host of new faces as new owner Tony Fernandes looks to rejuvenate the Hoops.

Hopefully this time, if QPR reach new heights of success Wright-Phillips will keep his place and remain a part of it.

4. Owen Hargreaves

Remember him?

Hargreaves established himself on the international scene during the 2006 World Cup with a series of outstanding performances for England.

Then the only full English international not playing his football in the Premier League, Hargreaves secured a move from Bayern Munich to Manchester United and was tipped by many pundits to become an Old Trafford legend in the ilk of Roy Keane.

For awhile, it seemed that would come true. Hargreaves started in the '08 Champions League final in Moscow, where United emerged victorious over Chelsea.

Sadly, Hargreaves has been plagued by injuries for a number of years. His tremendous discipline has seen him complete multiple rehabilitation programs, and soldier on after breaking down with another injury five minutes into is comeback for United.

The Canadian-born midfielder has tried acupuncture, faith healers and holistic therapy in his battle for fitness, and even posted training videos on youtube to display his fitness to potential employers.

On deadline day Hargreaves moved to Manchester City, and if he can break into a team that is sure to win trophies, he could become one of football's great injury comeback success stories.

3. Mikel Arteta

"Cause there's nobody better than Mikel Arteta, the best little Spaniard we know."

That was a song heard frequently on the terraces of Goodison Park last season. Everton fans will be heartbroken to lose the lovable Spaniard with phenomenal passing ability.

It is perhaps justice that Arteta will finally get to compete in the UEFA Champions League and play at the elite level of the game.  

Arteta has been at the heart of some good results for Everton as they have over-achieved for a number of years but not broke into the elite echelon. In addition, Arteta did not compete at the World Cup, due to the insane collection of talent at his native Spain's disposal (how many countries would he have started for?).

It didn't take Arsene Wenger long to sign another Spaniard to the side, after seeing talismanic captain Cesc Fabregas fly the coop earlier this month. While Arteta may not be as dynamic going forward, he can rival Fabregas for technical prowess. At the very least, Arsenal finally have an option for free kick situations Robin van Persie does not deem suitable for his magical left boot.

Arteta will be hoping to end the Gunner's six-year trophy drought, and after making quite a splash on deadline day, Arsenal could do exactly that.

2. Tottenham Hotspur

Many Tottenham fans feared they would see the back of Luka Modric, and a gaping hole would be left in the Spurs engine room. Tottenham have been reported to reject a deadline day bid of over $50 million for Modric, and if that is true then it is a clear statement of intent that they are looking to compete at the top end of the table.

Spurs even complemented Modric by bringing in tough tackling England international Scott Parker. With Parker likely to slide in immediately into central midfield, Spurs have the type of player who can win the physical battle and keep possession, thus allowing attacking talents of Modric to be enhanced even further in attacking midfield.

As an added bonus, Tottenham managed to offload non-event midfielder David Bentley on loan to West Ham United, and got his wages off the books, at least on a temporary basis.

1. Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has received a lot of criticism since last weekend, with much of it being justified.  

After an 8-2 demolition at Old Trafford Wenger very much carried the air of a man with his empire crumbling around him as the game wound to a close.

After apologizing to Gunners fans, the French manager made a splash on deadline day and addressed many long-standing concerns among the Arsenal faithful.

Defensive cover has been cited time and again as an area to improve, and the signing of Per Metersacker should calm those fears. The German international put in a series of impressive performances at the 2010 World Cup, and should add physical presence to the Arsenal back line.

Defender Andre Santos was also drafted in by Wenger, along with Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun from London rivals Chelsea, who comes in on a season-long loan.

Another criticism of Wenger has been a perceived refusal to bring in a star player, some observers believed his pride meant he had to be the first man to see talent in a player, and develop all players himself.

That has been proved spectacularly wrong when Mikel Arteta was brought to the Emirates Stadium.  

Arteta has been one of the Premier League's top performers for a long time, and will be an excellent addition to the Arsenal engine room.

Time will tell if it works, but Mr Wenger has sent a very clear message of intent out to his EPL rivals on transfer deadline day.