McFadden signs for Sunderland

Slightly (!) off topic, but M'Bia just got himself sent off against Arsenal after a really daft swipe at Corzola (or was it Vermaalen?)

I recall we came very close to signing him, did we not? A bit of a red-mist moment... just before Arteta scores for them.

We've not seem much discussion on here of the Best Little Spainard we used to Know... How sickening is it to see him being so good for them now? I know, I'm just bitter...

Hard to believe McFadden is only 29. I appreciate he wants to play at the highest level and I hope he gets some game time up there. However I think he should have dropped into the Championship. Playing every week and dictating games.

Reading equalize late on to prevent Fulham (!) from leapfrogging over us!!!

But Arteta's goal (supposedly offside) puts Arsenal above us goal difference, giving the League Table that old familiar look for the first time this season with the 'new' Sky Four (sans Liverpool) back on top... Yuk!

[ps: Has that type of goal where the ball comes back off the woodwork to a player who was offside when the original shot was struck, always been offside or is it a relatively recent change in the law? I don't think that should be offside as it's essentially a new phase of play once the ball comes back off the woodwork in a completely unpredictable manner.]

Without the sale of Arteta and getting him off the wage bill, there's not a hope in hell we would have had the funds for Jelavic and Gibson. So no regrets in selling him and how things have worked out, given the financial constraints the club are operating under. In fact it's probably been one of those rare deals which has worked out well for all parties.

As an aside, I think he's done well enough at Arsenal but certainly not been breathtaking. He does a similar role to Carrick at Man U - recycle the ball, often with sideways passes to the full backs, without doing too much especially creative. I don't mean that to be disparaging because there's a place for that sort of player in most teams. Any success he gets at Arsenal, he deserves.

think Moyes has spent the Arteta money wisely, but besides Pienaar and maybe Mirallas, I think Moyes has missed the bar a little.

After both Arteta and Rodwell went the centre of midfield should have been stronger than it currently is, quite a big miss by Moyes I think.

He knew about how weak it was so it is really poor of him that he did not manage to bring in a direct replacement for Rodwell, Oveido was a strange transfer, and a central midfielder should have been brought in first.