Arsène Wenger, like Tom Cruise, can't handle the truth, and defended his transfer policy of not strengthening a squad which has won nothing in eight years before the start of a new season.
But, just like in 2011, defeat prompts action and Arsenal have become belatedly active in the transfer market. Geoffrey Kondogbia is one of the players the Gunners have enquired about, but Juventus are apparently waiting in the wings.
Monaco are also interested in the 20-year-old Sevilla midfielder, say the Express, which sounds ominous for Arsenal.
Kondogbia could leave Sevilla before the window shuts
Gareth Bale is off to Real Madrid for £93 million, so said one media outlet yesterday. Though Bale remains, unsurprisingly, a Tottenham player.
Spurs are on the verge of signing Willian in what will be their third record-breaking transfer deal of the summer, which has led to the reasonably logical conclusion André Villas-Boas is readying the squad for Bale's departure.
Fabio Coentrão has been touted as a makeweight, but for all that excitable tweeting on Tuesday, Sky Italia were incorrect.
King of the wingers
Incidentally, Sky Italia had the scoop on the Pep Guardiola-to-Bayern story, but if you have ever followed Tancredi Palmeri you will know they have had as many hits as the New Radicals. You get what you give.
Spurs striker Jermain Defoe has emerged as a Stoke City target, write the Sun.
The 30-year-old goalscorer could move on a season-long loan deal to the Britannia, where he would link up with former teammate Peter Crouch.
A number of Manchester United fans seem to be keener on Luke Shaw than Leighton Baines and the Express have tentatively linked them with the left-back.
Southampton defender Shaw, 18, is 10 years Baines' junior and a future England full-back in waiting. The story seems forced though, since Shaw signed a five-year contract with the Saints in the summer. Though Andy Carroll inked a new deal with Newcastle in October 2010 and left three months later.
Shaw won Southampton's penalty at the weekend
But the Mirror re-emphasise United will return with improved bids for Baines and Marouane Fellaini.
And Everton remain keen on Gareth Barry, but the 32-year-old's wages could scupper any move, report the Telegraph.