This writer has an interest - bordering on obsession - with football fans on twitter who dedicate hours to catching out their fellow supporters over potential signings.
This genre hit its apotheosis earlier this year when Ryan Giggs was linked with the not-actually-vacant manager's job at Celtic. It was a well-crafted and perfectly executed plan, that ultimately forced the BBC to confirm was untrue.
Here we have another one, albeit on a smaller scale. Arsenal have signed very few players this window - Granit Xhaka being the sole major arrival - and Arsenal fans are getting tetchy with Arsene Wenger's lack of transfer activity, particularly given the level of activity at Chelsea, Liverpool and both Manchester clubs.
With that in mind, a twitter user with the sufficiently vague moniker of footy (@alit321) decided to get creative with one of the most remarkable bit of photoshopping we've seen in some time.
The pictures were supposedly a leak of Arda Turan's first interview as an Arsenal player:
WHAAAAAT 😲 BREAKING NEWS !Arda Turan @Arsenal @gunnersreport @AFC_Fans @ArsenalFanTV pic.twitter.com/28JMFdqPA3
— Cudder (@alit321) August 1, 2016
Taking a step back from this, it patently seems absurd. Arsenal have not been mentioned in conjunction with the signature of Turan at all.
But supporters often do not have this element of perspective, they're wrapped up in the moment and, as a result, are able to reason with themselves to prove this could actually be true.
First of all: why would Arsenal sign him? Easy: The club have declared interest in signing Riyad Mahrez, meaning that they are evidently in the market for that style of attacker. The fact it has dragged on for some time means that it may not happen, so it is quite plausible that the club would turn to Turan.
Secondly, how have I not heard anything of this? Well, the club and the journalists who are best-connected are all currently in the United States, so it is plausible it has escaped their attention. Also, Turan is currently in England training with Barcelona, so it easy for him to scoot across London for a medical unseen.
Given these two facts, along with the fact that confirmation of Granit Xhaka's signing was leaked online through pictures taken during his photo shoot for the club's in-house media and the fact that those pictures look pretty slick, the whole thing somehow makes sense.
Some Arsenal fans got carried away:
Arda Turan?! I'll take that ... Well done Arsene you cheeky man
— Jordan Grant (@JordanxGrant) August 1, 2016
@Arsenal announce Arda Turan
— Made in Indieland (@MadeinIndieland) August 1, 2016
The penny dropped, however, with some eagle-eyed supporters, realising that the pictures featured Turan wearing last season's training kit:
That Arda Turan thing he is wearing last years tracksuit top....
So don't get all excited peeps!!!— Charlie (@afccharlie) August 1, 2016
Many Arsenal fans applauded the sheer, brazen nature of the Photoshopping:
Top photoshop skills bringing meltdowns upon Arsenal fans. Hilarious. #ArdaTuran
— حسن (@hrimz01) August 1, 2016
Arda Turan photoshop one of the best I've seen in my entire life
— Percy 🇿🇦 (@Percy_Maks_) August 1, 2016
Then the gags started rolling:
As others admonished their fellow supporters lack of vigilance, digging up the original image of Turan used:
And that was the end of the evening's entertainment.
Once again, an impressive level of dedication to catching some folk out.
