A story that sounds more realistic would be the Spahic rumour. Bacary Sagna had something to say about him on Arsenal.com, I read the article at the time and now all of a sudden the story has been removed. Hmmmm *scratches hairs on chin*

Last pre season game is over with, next week we kick off our first Premier league game of season 2010/2011. This is the time when I expect to see the transfer market hot up. The latest rumour to be doing the rounds over on twitter is Manchester City’s central defender Vincent Kompany. Apparently we are talking to cash rich and squad overflowing Manchester City about the former Anderlecht and Hamburg player.

I don’t know how true or false this story is but I wonder how a player who cannot establish himself in the Manchester City squad could then walk straight into Arsenal’s team, even if it was as back up.

At the same time, I can imagine many managers watching Manchester City from a distance in the long grass. Waiting for the right time to pounce. They have too many players in their squad and I do not imagine that even a club with the financial power of Manchester City would want top players sitting around in the reserves all season twiddling their thumbs.

A story that sounds more realistic would be the Spahic rumour. Bacary Sagna had something to say about him on Arsenal.com, I read the article at the time and now all of a sudden the story has been removed. Hmmmm *scratches hairs on chin*

Jumping the gun ey? Perhaps a deal is closer than we think. I remember the Nasri transfer popping up on dotcom before the deal was confirmed, it was removed of course.

The Shay Given rubbish is almost as bad as the £25 million bid for Reina. Well maybe it isn’t, I hear that City are in desperate need of cash, so perhaps a £5mil bid would seal the deal. I mean we could save a whopping £20million by not buying Reina.

Jokes aside (as unfunny as they are), I wonder if any goalkeepers are being lined up as we speak or if Arsene has already tested the water and not fancied the temperature. Regular readers already know my thoughts on the goalkeepers we have. I just hope that if Almunia is not sold on that he can recapture his best form, whether that be from number one or number two.

Arsene has said that his team can climb the two stairs needed to lift the Premier league title. It is exactly what you would expect Arsene to say before the season kicks off. He will obviously be trying to instil confidence in his players and doing it in public is very common practice by Arsene.

I didn’t get the chance to congratulate Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs on their call up to the full England squad, I say full squad but it is more of an experimental futuristic looking squad. A future with Darren Bent and Bobby Zamora doesn’t exactly fill you with much confidence but at least Arsenal are doing things correctly.

I remember Wenger smirking in the way that he does a few years ago about Arsenal soon having England players for the national team, he as often was proven correct.

Jack Wilshere has a good chance to becoming a key figure for the national side but it is going to require hard work and commitment.

Kieran Gibbs has taken huge strides of late but he will have his work cut out for the short term. That guy who played at left back for England was the only positive for his country during the dismal showing at the world cup. Gibbs has the rather difficult task of pushing out Gael Clichy from the Arsenal side before he can be considered as a first choice England player. I was impressed with Gibbs’ attacking cameo against Legia Warsaw. He has played as a defensive midfielder, left winger and left back. So his position may not be nailed down just yet, although he looks like a nailed on deputy to Clichy for the coming season.

Wenger will take a good look at Cesc and Van Persie on Friday before deciding if they will be included for squad going to Liverpool on Sunday.

Wenger said:

“Cesc goes to Mexico so he will not be able to practice. I will have to see how both are on Friday. But they are both short. Cesc comes back on Thursday night or Friday, so we’ll have to see. I hope Van Persie will have a good week of preparation, but I think he will be short as well.”

It is far from ideal having two of our best attacking players possibly unavailable for a difficult start to the season. If we were at home to a mid to lower table team then I wouldn’t mind so much. Of course I couldn’t care less if we manage to beat Liverpool on Sunday but it would be nice to go there with our strongest side. If Van Persie has a full week of training then I am guessing that Robin will be sitting on the bench with his new number 10 shirt on.

When was Cesc’s last 90 minutes? Was it Birmingham away? That is a long time ago and I doubt that tiredness is a problem, it is more match fitness that would be the problem. If he does play in the friendly then it would be interesting to see what Wenger does if he plays very well.

Anyway, I am being unfair on super Sami Nasri who has played in Cesc’s position during this pre season and has been our best player, pretty much from start to finish.

I can even see a Nasri goal at Anfield, drilling low past the sprawling Reina. Ooh, the season is approaching and I am getting excited.

Back tomorrow.

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