Cole - Gallas FINALLY!

So the drama is finally over, Gallas and Cole will stay in London but switch colors. A last minute deal sees Ashley Cole heading to Chelsea and Gallas and cash heading the other way. I am still surprised that this took to the ultimate moment to happen, it has been the worst kept secret for months that Cole was heading to Chelsea and that Gallas wanted out of Stamford Bridge, with Emirates being the most likely destination seeing Arsenal has few choices at center back and left back.

Both disgruntled defenders will now hopefully find places in teams that desperately need them. This could mean the end of Wayne Bridge at Chelsea. In the end I think this is a better move for Arsenal than Chelsea, and here is why:

• Cole was not going to play for Arsenal, so the fact they got a world class defender in return is already a positive. Having the money would have been nice, but what could Wenger have purchased....he would have to wait until the transfer window reopened and at that point Arsenal might have been too far out to contend.
• Gallas solves more problems for Arsenal than Cole does for Chelsea. For all the issues Bridge has, he was not the problem Chelsea might run into. Chelsea has shown a little shakiness in the middle (Carvalho being the main culprit) and having the versatility of Gallas made the back four more stable. This is exactly what Arsenal needed, with a hole in the middle of the defense, Gallas will be an instant stabilizer. He is also able to switch out to either defense side if need be, this will give the young Gunner defenders the stabilizing force it has lacked since Campbell started to slide.

The other move that is very intriguing is the Reyes for Baptista move, between Arsenal and Real Madrid. Reyes has not been happy in London since day one, he is an incredibly talented player, but a bit soft. Baptista is the "beast," what else is there to say?

He can slot in well in the midfield or as a striker. He was lost at Real Madrid since they really did not have a position for him, I think under Wenger's tutelage and at Arsenal he will flourish and bring an element of toughness not seen at Arsenal since the days of Vieira and Parlour.