The last two transfer deadline days have been absolutely exhilarating. They never cease to intrigue the neutrals and Sky Sports’ coverage of the event made the final hours very dramatic for all involved. With the last minute signings of Peter Crouch, Anton Ferdinand, Raul Meireles, and Mikel Arteta stealing the headlines, today’s “Ticker” will review all the signings from yesterday, concerning each Premier League club.

Arsenal: The Gunners were on the “selling side” of the transfer market, as they let go of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas. However, Wenger turned it around on the final day by sealing the signings of Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos. Mertesacker brings size to the Arsenal back four and experience. The lengthy defender should help the Gunners defend on set pieces, which was a issue for last year’s squad. The German has appeared for the national team 75 times. Arsenal signed Santos from Fenerbahce yesterday. He has been capped 22 times for Brazil. These two defenders bring experience to a young Arsenal defense. A last minute deal for Everton’s Mikel Arteta went through late on Wednesday night. Literally at the last minute, it took a half hour for the deal to be confirmed by the FA. The Spaniard told the press that a move to the North London club was, “a big opportunity,” and the 29 year old said, “I want to see myself on the biggest stage, the Champions League.” The Gunners also picked up Yossi Benayoun from Chelsea on a season long loan. Benayoun can provide extra spark and creativity to a side lacking in that category, as the Israeli proved he could when coming off the bench late in matches at Liverpool.

Aston Villa: The Birmingham club made moves for Spurs players Alan Hutton and Jermaine Jenas. The ex-Spurs duo were both ecstatic to join Villa. Hutton said, “As soon as I knew Villa was interested, it was the only place I wanted to go,” while Jenas added that he is, “…delighted. Villa are a big club and I’m up for the cause.” Aston Villa guaranteed the signing of Shamrock Rovers youngster Enda Stevens. The Ireland U21 will join the club in January.

Blackburn: As expected, Birmingham City defender Scott Dann signed for Blackburn today. The 24 year old Englishman, will dawn the number 16 at Ewood Park. Rovers also acquired Yakubu from Everton on a permanent deal (though the player is not yet listed as a first team member on the club‘s website).

Bolton: It was a good day for the Wanderers. In addition to holding on to Harry Redknapp’s key target, Gary Cahill, the club secured Gael Kakuta on a 6-month deal. The French winger should bring extra skill to Bolton. Coyle also got his hands on David Ngog. For a major part of Liverpool’s team last season, Ngog was a key part of the squad, because there was no one else to put up front until Suarez and Carroll came aboard. The Frenchman led the team in goals for a long period of time. Ngog will be at the Reebok for three years.

Chelsea: Raul Meireles penned a four year deal with the Blues, just after filing a transfer request at Anfield. Watching the coverage of the drama on TV, it left me in shock that Dalgish was willing to sell one of his best players from last season. However, the Portuguese midfielder is very happy with the move that finally went through. Throughout the day, Chelsea loaned out players left and right, sending Kakuta to Bolton, Patrick van Aanholt to Wigan, and Ulises Davila to Vitesse.

Everton: The Toffies lost two key members of their club yesterday in Jermaine Beckford and Mikel Arteta. The club also sent teenage defender Shane Duffy to Scunthorpe United on loan, which is supposed to last a month. However, there were good points in the day for Everton, as the club signed 24 year old winger Royston Drenthe, from Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid. Drenthe, who can be used as a defender, spent last year on loan at Hercules. The Dutchman was in fantastic form last year and should have a bright year on loan at Goodison Park. In addition to Drenthe, David Moyes’ signed Denis Stracqualursi on a season-long loan. Denis should be a strong replacement for Yakubu. The Argentine, known as El Traca, is a powerful striker who was signed from Tigre.

Fulham: The Cottagers reportedly saved Clint Dempsey from being poached by Arsene Wenger on deadline day. FFC confirmed the signing of Bryan Ruiz from FC Twente. The fee is undisclosed, but is expected to be around 10 million pounds. The winger signed a four year deal. Orlando Sa was brought to Craven Cottage on a three year deal. Sa played for Porto and was on loan at Nacional last year and he has been capped by his nation’s national team. The 23 year old said, “This is an enormous opportunity for me.” Fulham’s third signing of the day was defender Zdenek Grygera. He signed a one year deal on a free transfer. The 31 year old can play at any defensive position, as he did at Juventus for four years.

Liverpool: It was a thrilling summer at Anfield and King Kenny has added the final piece to the puzzle. Ex-City and Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy will wear the number 39 for the Reds, as he put pen to paper on a two year deal with his former club. Bellamy told the club website that Kenny Dalglish was a major reason behind his move to Anfield. The striker said, “I’ve grown up with Kenny Dalglish, now to be signed by him is a massive honor.” Damien Comolli said the signing was, “a no brainer,” saying that the Bellamy, “…has pace, he’s a good finisher, he works hard and the timing of his runs is second to none.” The Reds signed another striker, who will be developed in the academy, American Villyan Bijev, a member of the USA U-18 side. The California Odyssey talent will pick up his work permit and head to Germany to play on loan for Fortuna Dusseldorf. LFC’s Joe Cole will spend a year on loan at Lille. The French champions lured the Englishman to the club with the opportunity for the 29 year old to play Champions League football, once again.

Manchester City: The club has wished the best for QPR and Liverpool signings Shaun Wright-Phillips and Craig Bellamy. However, Mancini would never let a dramatic deadline day pass with out getting a deal done. City picked up Owen Hargreaves on a shock free transfer deal. The Canadian defender has taken his talents across the city of Manchester for the season.

Manchester United: If you went on United’s website today, you wouldn’t have a clue of the drama going on elsewhere. The Red Devils didn’t make a move yesterday and off to a fantastic start Sir Alex seems to have a perfect side. However, Inter midfielder Wesley Sneijder revealed he was “close” to a deal with United, despite saying that he would definitely not be headed to Old Trafford.

Newcastle United: The Magpies signed Davide Santon from Inter Milan. Newcastle also picked up goalkeeper Rob Elliot from Charlton Athletic on a five year deal.

Norwich City: The newly promoted Canaries loaned out Tom Adeyemi to Oldham Athletic and Cody McDonald to Coventry City.

Queens Park Rangers: Tony Fernandes has taken this club in the right direction. Lacking Premier League talent at the start of the campaign, Neil Warnock’s side should surely stay up. QPR signed twelve players this summer. The fourth defender to sign was Anton Ferdinand, who penned a last minute deal, running into Loftus Road to sign the papers with just ten minutes to go before the deadline. Shaun Wright-Phillips also joined Rangers. The England midfielder will strengthen the midfield recently filled with Joey Barton. Warnock also signed Southampton’s John Puncheon. The recent signings of Armand Traore and Luke Young should lockdown QPR’s defense. In other QPR news, the club signed 17 year old goalkeeper Tommaso Trani, to a two year deal.

Stoke City: Tony Pulis made three huge signings for the Potters. William Palacios, from Spurs, finally joined the club after many rumors of his departure from White Heart Lane, to make room for Scott Parker. The Potters picked up two strikers as well, the first being Cameron Jerome from Birmingham City. Peter Crouch, another last minute signing, was Stoke’s marquee summer signing and should pair up nicely with Kenwyne Jones.

Sunderland: Fans of the Black Cats were delighted to hear that Niklas Bendtner joined the club on a season long loan from Arsenal.

Swansea City: The Welsh club picked up Lens’ Darnel Situ and Leeds United’s Frederico Bessone. Both defenders, Situ was worth 250,000 pounds, while Bessone, a left back, has rejoined the Swans, signing a two year deal. Swansea secured Fulham full back Rafik Halliche on a loan that lasts until the start of the new year.

Tottenham: Harry Redknapp left Spurs fans disappointed on deadline day, but he did a fantastic job on Wednesday. Spurs secured Luka Modric, at least until January, and signed Scott Parker. Redknapp’s squad now includes a 40 million pound Chelsea target, last year’s PFA Player of the Year, Gareth Bale, and PWA Player of the Year, Scott Parker. Spurs’ next test comes against Wolverhampton. We will see then if Parker can gel with Bale and Modric to help Tottenham avoid losing their first three games of the campaign. David Bentley has been sent to West Ham on a season long loan.

West Bromwich Albion: Roy Hodgson did not bring anybody in, but he did sell Pablo Ibanez to Birmingham City (a replacement for Scott Dann).

Wigan Athletic: Roberto Martinez signed Celtic’s Scottish striker Shaun Maloney. In addition, Wigan picked up defender Patrick van Aanholt on loan for the season.

Wolverhampton: Mick McCarthy simply loaned midfielder David Davis to Scottish side Inverness until January.

Misc:

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce told the press that the transfer window is, “hugely disruptive and a massive disruption.” A master of the nine year old system, Allardyce admits that he dealt well with the madness of the deadline (he signed David Bentley and Henri Lansbury yesterday), but feels sympathy for those managers who will have to wait until January to bolster their squads.

Mauro Zarate will join Diego Forlan up front at Inter Milan.

Article of the Day:

Phillip-Wroe questions the ability of ex-professional footballers who have become pundits.

Video of the Day:

Welcome a special welcome back to Anfield for “The Nutter with the Putter.”

Question of the Day:

Which signing from yesterday will help their new club the most?