Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey looks at the thinning Arsenal midfield and asks, once again, whether Arsene Wenger just needs to bite the bullet and buy a player who does not need years of mentoring and development.

After Hleb finally arrived at the Nou Camp yesterday, his former boss seemed indifferent after losing a player that was once expected to produce so much.

"We are comfortable with our decision to let him go and we are all looking forward to continuing our preparations for the new season ahead," Wenger said, as reported in The Guardian.

However, Arsenal's preparations for the season ahead seem to revolve around losing as many midfielders as possible.

Despite signing Hleb's replacement last week in Samir Nasri, there is still a nagging doubt that Wenger needs to do more this season. Nasri, despite only brief appearances at Euro 2008, did little to get Arsenal fans salivating in the same way as his ‘New Zidane' tag does. No doubt they will point out that he is one for the future, but this is the whole point. Aaron Ramsey, Wenger's other big summer move, is one for the future, but you can't replace a first team player with a hot prospect. It's just a stroke of luck that the players the club do possess are so skilled they often defy their years.

Hleb follows Flamini out of the exit door at Arsenal, with Gilberto Silva expected to seal a switch to Panathinaikos this week which leaves the midfield very vulnerable and in the hands of Fabregas. One of the star performers at Euro 2008 there is no doubting that the Spanish midfielder is a class act, but he is not a player like Lampard or Gerrard who can win Premier League matches with an all-action display. He needs a partner and, for the time being, it is unclear who this will be.

Wenger's transfer policy is notorious but equates to ultimately mixed results. Spending big on young players is not unusual for the Frenchman, but perhaps he should be looking closer to home for players that fit the bill. Xabi Alonso, for instance, unsettled at Liverpool would be a great signing for Arsenal.

He and Fabregas have an understanding from the national team but there is such a slim possibility that Wenger would even consider making a move it is almost as if the manager views buying ready made players as cheating.

Is it not time Wenger, and Arsenal fans, admit that they need players to serve a purpose in the short term?