Graham's double signing

Although Arsenal will have to wait a little longer for the return of the striker they crave, the club did sign two new forwards yesterday to quell the growing supporter revolt at Highbury.

George Graham, the club's manager, began a busy day by signing John Hartson and Chris Kiwomya from Luton and Ipswich respectively. He then attended the Lancaster Gate press conference at which Paul Merson returned to public life.

Merson will not be available for at least another month, but Hartson plays against Everton at Highbury today. Both he and Kiwomya will be eligible to join Arsenal's European Cup-Winners' Cup defence, which resumes in March.

Hartson, a 19-year-old Welsh Under-21 international, will cost £2.5m. Ipswich want a similar fee for Kiwomya, 25, but may have to settle for a transfer tribunal judgement, as Arsenal have offered £500,000 less.

Hartson came to prominence during Luton's run to the FA Cup semi-finals last season. Kiwomya has been around a lot longer but has never fulfilled his undoubted potential. In a stronger side, he might.

Graham has been under pressure to make a big signing all season, and he admitted: "They are not the big-name players everybody hoped and expected I would get, but the big names I want are not available.

"We need players now to give us a boost. These two are for the present and the future." Graham still has a £4m bid in for Les Ferdinand of Queen's Park Rangers and he added: "We could still get him at the end of the season, but they won't sell him right now."

"Hartson," Graham said, "has limitless potential. We had to move quickly as Liverpool, Forest and Palace were interested." Merson, meanwhile, said his aim was "to get back into the Arsenal team and then go on and play for England again - I believe that is not out of the question.

"I watched football in the clinic and it was good to see it, to know what I have been missing. I appreciate how much I've missed it and how much I will do so when I'm 35."

Graham said: "I am very optimistic. I had a couple of conversations with the psychologist, who told me how much he had been impressed with Paul's honesty. I think he has made great strides." Intriguingly, he added: "Paul has been very honest - it is veryrefreshing." Merson will be subject to random drug tests, and will return to the clinic for weekly counselling.

Mark Hughes, the Manchester United striker whose first-team future has been jeopardised by the arrival of Andy Cole at Old Trafford, will seek to clarify his career prospects next week. "Mark's future will be decided in talks with Alex Ferguson next week," his agent, Dennis Roach, said.

Leicester City will complete the £1m signing of Norwich's former Manchester United striker, Mark Robins, on Monday. Lee Chapman, the West Ham target man, yesterday made Southend his 11th club, signing on a month's loan before going straight into the sidefor today's match at Grimsby.

Gillingham's future remains in doubt. The Third Division club, who called in receivers on Monday, were asked by the Football League yesterday to provide a guarantee within 14 days that they will be able to fulfill their fixtures as far as the end of the season.

Sir John Hall's target, Football diary, fixtures, page 46

New faces for '95, team news, page 47