Jesus, what is O'neill doing, consolidating the club as a NON champs league team, ok they took big hits last year with Laursen retiring as he was by miles their best defender. Its all downhill since Jan, Heskey was completely the wrong person to buy, he's started playing different football, Young, Gabby, Barry, even Milner(who isn't great to start with) were worse when they lost that fluidity in attacking football by changing up formation and sticking heskey in.
But Downing is never in a million years worth 12mil, if he wasn't english, a 2nd rate player at a relegated club would be moving to a bottom 6 side for £5mil tops. Its possible Young might switch wings, go upfront and they sell someone else, or be on his way for a decent fee. Would love a pacey winger at Arsenal. Yes he can cross like few others in the league though Bendtner is very good in the air, as is Eduardo. But he's got a great cutting in game and his interplay with Abonglahor and passing between them through a defence is very strong part of his game which you would say was more "Arsenal" style.
AFAIK he is a gooner(or is that gabby?), and Arsenal could do with buying some english talent when they do have cash. if the 6+5 does come in, we're utterly screwed, English players might be expensive now but truly quality English players are already expensive, when the rule is active their prices will only increase as people are desparate to get english players in.
We should really have looked at a 7-10mil move for Upson rather than the dutch guy for the same reasoning.
