FIFA, under the guidance of Sepp Blatter, continue to drive forward their insane worldwide quota system that, if implemented, is sure to have a ruinous effect on English football. Blatter's "six + five" plan proposes to restrict the number of foreign players fielded per English Premiership team.

From the beginning of the 2010-11 season, Blatter's intention is that every English football team must implement the rule of fielding a minimum of 4 English players in its starting eleven. This would increase to five for the following season and six in preparation for 2012-13.

The effect this would have on English football would be catastrophic, as England has a particularly poor record of being able to consistently produce high calibre players, and it's debatable whether England has - or ever has had - the social climate to produce more than a paltry amount of players with the required technique and mental attributes to play the game at a comparable worldwide level.

If Blatter's plans manage to override the legal obstacles, it seems likely that the top four English clubs, whilst already possessing a stranglehold on the Premier League, would no doubt fight over the relatively few English players of any worth, forcing the dregs of English talent to be picked up by the rest of the division. The gulf between rich and poor, talented and inept, would widen even further, and the entertainment value would also certainly plummet from a technical perspective.

The plans, supposedly, put in place to increase competitiveness are also intended to enhance England's prospects on the International stage. This fails to take into account the fact that many supporters have increasingly little interest in International football, itself on the decline as major tournaments continue to feature players often tired after a brutal programme of domestic and international games combined with increasingly tedious gamesmanship.

The notion that something needs to be done regarding leagues that are dominated by the same teams season in, season out, seems somewhat bizarre, as for 100 years Germany, France, England, Spain and Holland have always been dominated by the same teams. At the end of the day it appears obvious, that it's money that dominates football, and prestige that decides where players want to go, with the big clubs in major cities always having, and always likely to have, first choice of home grown players or otherwise due to placement, reputation and facilities.

There are many other reasons why Blatter's plans appear ill-thought-out and illogical, but I haven't got all day. One can only hope that the European Union will throw out these disastrous plans, which are not in-keeping with current European employment laws.

In a bizarre outburst, Alexander Hleb insists that he has never signalled his intention to leave Arsenal football club. No doubt worried by the reputation he might pick up, Hleb stated whilst on international duty last night, “I have also read [that I have said I want to leave], but I do not know who has written it. That is nonsense." Unfortunately for Hleb, it seems pretty obvious who has written it - his agent, under his instruction.

The situation is becoming not too dissimilar to Nicolas Anelka and Patrick Vieira's protracted departures from the club - full of lies and double bluffs. You know it's going to happen, but you just don't know when.

In another display of player petulance, although headlines such as "Van Persie Slams Wage Deal" are slightly over the top, striker Robin Van Persie has displayed his slight frustration that Arsenal cannot hold on to its key players, indicated that the club should throw its wage structure down the toilet and offer players four times what they're already earning.

“They won’t pay enormous amounts of money. I think they should go to a higher level of salary. If you want to keep the group together, you have to keep them happy. If you are 27 or 28, I can understand that you would make the decision to go elsewhere if you can earn three or four times as much. If that sort of money was also paid here, I’m sure that person would stay."

At a recent Q&A meeting, Arsenal Director Danny Fiszman did a good job of reassuring fans/shareholders of the latest boardroom operations and expectations.

I always like to say, there are no answers, only questions. Most people have their own idea of how the world turns, or in this case how Arsenal Football club turns. When you ask a question you usually only want reaffirmation, and Fiszman gave us that. He basically told us what we already know but still wanted to hear, that the board are 100% behind Arsene Wenger, transfer funds are available on request - as they have always been, and the Emirates stadium will not be affected by the worldwide credit crunch. Departed director Keith Edleman had the good sense to employ a low interest, 25-year fixed repayment plan.

Meanwhile, a middle-finger was also directed at the benefactor model, it's clear that Usmanov will have to do things the hard way - and he will no doubt try. The storm is brewing, and if there's no success next season expect a lightning strike.

Arsenal fans would do well to copy and paste Fiszman's Q&A from Arsenal.com and refer back to it whenever the media blows up a crisis storm about Arsenal's lack of competitive wage structure, transfer budget or other such nonsense. Arsenal is a classy football club, with consistent values and long-standing boardroom principles - everything is in good hands, even if the board's relationship with the fans has become somewhat distant since moving to the Emirates stadium.

I've never been a big fan of Philippe Senderos, he gives his best on the pitch, but for me his best has rarely been good enough. He might be a great player when he's 28, but I don't think it's worthwhile putting up with 10 years of catastrophic errors in key games whilst waiting for a player to reach that vantage point.

Although most don't, a lot of Arsenal fans support Senderos, which completely baffles me. I don't want him to fail and I try to watch the games objectively and his performances without prejudice but nearly always come to the same conclusion.

Many supporters state that Senderos has played a lot of good games with numerous clean sheets this season, but Arsenal is an attacking team - they dominate possession in the majority of games and the defence is rarely put under immense pressure. So I think being an Arsenal centre-back is probably slightly less exerting at times than it might be playing for a lot of other European teams, especially at The Emirates.

However, every season there are obviously key games where Arsenal will be put under pressure by top class Premiership clubs, plus a few high pressure local derbies and major Champions League games. For me, this is where a centre back needs to step up and really prove their credentials, particularly mental credentials, and this is where Senderos more often than not falters.

Many people point to the player's performances in the Champions League run of 2006, but it's fair to say that Senderos profited from the added protection of playing within a deep lying 4-5-1 formation where he is not exposed to pace - one of his major weaknesses. Ordinarily, Arsenal do not play this system.

Reported quotes coming from Senderos as he prepares for Switzerlands's Euro 2008 challenge, have slightly baffled me. Yes, quotes are often taken out of context, but you simply have to assume these were the words that were spoken as they're not particularly sensationalised. Senderos remarks: “I have played some thirty matches. I played in some great games in the Champions League. I have gained experience. I have nothing to be ashamed of my record" - slightly defensive, however, on speculation that he was a nervous wreck after the Champions League defeat at Anfield, "This is untrue. I just assumed my mistake on the first goal for Liverpool. Then I was the victim of the choices made by the coach."

Hmphhh. The second goal Senderos stood 10 yards off Torres allowing him to turn and hammer it into the  back of the net, how does that make Senderos a victim? Bizarre.

Other news is thin on the ground, with the usual transfer speculation on a merry-go-round. Many reports ascertain that Carlos Vela has now obtained his work permit to play at Arsenal - although realistically this was never in doubt.

As far as Arsenal supporters were concerned nobody wanted to see a winner emerge from last night's Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester Utd. However, when Barcelona were taken out in the semis I quickly realised I'd have to make a difficult choice - and eventually plumped for United.

During the game I found my support of United increasingly growing. Ronaldo - love him or hate him - is a genuine pleasure to watch at times, and yes, I do have a certain respect for the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. Whereas Chelsea, I simply find too hard to stomach. Apart from the principle that the team's history is being built from a sugar daddy's pound notes, this is a truly detestable team.

I am a football purist, and I like to watch attack-minded teams playing as fair and square as is ordinarily permissible. If I didn't support Arsenal, I'd probably switch to Barcelona purely for the aesthetics. Chelsea don't attack - Abramovic has spent £500m and produced a team that is practically impregnable for 75% of a game and then tries to win it with substitutes. It usually works, but every now and then a team like that comes a cropper, and it's hard to sympathise with their ethic.

Of course, we can't forget the part played by Arsenal old boy, Nicolas Anelka. Thanks Nicky, all is forgiven. What I found interesting was the contrast in reaction between John Terry and Nicolas Anelka after their respective penalty misses. As Terry received his losers medal, with his face red and puffy from its copious extraction of tears, Anelka gave Platini a big cheery smile and went on his way. Seen later stroking his chin with a bemused sense of embarrassment, one can't help thinking, having started from the bench yet again, Anelka will soon be joining his 56th club.

Three stories are capturing my attention this morning.

First, 20-year-old Marseille creative midfielder Samir Nasri. Reading through the mass of media transfer wastepaper, this is the one signing that looks like being a real possibility. The player's own website has flashed the news that the player is in talks with Arsenal, the player himself has indicated he is on the brink of leaving the club, and he's French. My reservations are the price, £13.5m is the touted fee - an amount that Wenger doesn't usually risk for youth, and exactly where he's going to play. Nasri is an attacking central midfielder, so Wenger will have to move him out to the wings. That Nasri will be a direct replacement for Hleb is plausible - Wenger might be willing to cough up safe in the knowledge that a deal for Hleb will cover most of the expense.

Elsewhere, rumours have been building for several weeks that Kolo Toure wants re-assurances of his role at the club. It's probably rubbish but worth looking into. The player lost his position in central defence after some relatively poor performances throughout the second half of the season. With Wenger himself claiming that a centre-back signing will be a definite purchase, you would have to imagine that Toure will be the fall guy, not William Gallas.

The huge majority of fans will side with Toure, as he has been a fantastic and loyal servant to Arsenal - and his enthusiasm for the game is second to none. However, we really need to be looking at what's best for Arsenal, and for me, like him or not, Gallas is simply a better defender than Toure and should keep his place and his captaincy. In my opinion, Toure should be on the bench next season as centre-back and right back cover, where he will give us some much-required strength in depth. Whether Toure will accept this is another matter, but if a player performs poorly he should expect to be dropped - why should anyone be immune to that?

It would, however, be disconcerting if Toure left, as we don't want to be back in the position next season where Song, Djourou or Senderos are Arsenal's only centre-back cover - none of them are convincing and if we're not careful the same sequence of events that hurt us last season will again next season. Why Arsenal can't incorporate three top class centre-backs within the same squad bemuses me when we have an abundance of players willing to fight it out in other positions.

Afternoon all, or morning depending on where you live - if only I could get up at 7am every morning like other bloggers - no chance.

All appears quiet on the transfer front, with Inter Milan appearing to have gone cold on the idea of signing Alexander Hleb. Alternatively, Arsene Wenger's threats of reporting Inter for tapping-up, co-joined by Hleb's insistence that he will not dump on Arsenal by buying out his contract could be giving them second thoughts. I must admit I don't like the idea of reporting clubs for illegal behaviour, virtually everyone does it or has done it and it could damage relations between the clubs and therefore might not be in the best interests of Arsenal long-term.

Meanwhile, more comforting news arrives courtesy of two Gunners who appear keen to stay. Full back Gael Clichy is supposedly putting pen to paper on a new 4-year deal as we speak, whilst Arsenal are reportedly hopeful of Cesc Fabregas signing a new deal upping his wages from £60-£100k. Some papers claim that rising above the £100k barrier breaks the clubs wage structure - or heightens it, but to be honest, I don't know where these reporters get all the numbers from - their backside probably.

Transfer rumours persist unabated, Werder Bremen's 23 year-old Brazilian midfielder Diego is being touted as a replacement for Hleb, whilst Marseille's "dynamo" Samir Nasri is being touted as a shoe-in for Flamini - despite being a creativa attacking midfielder. Then it goes from the sublime - Hatem Ben Arfa, to the ridiculous, 36-year-old Lilian Thuram.

One rumour that may have legs is Wenger's pursuit of Manchester City centre-back Richard Dunne, crowned 3 times player of the season by the club's own fans. I must admit that this player has impressed me many times in recent seasons. He's 28, 6ft 2, deceptively quick, not too injury prone and the epitomy of calm. Neither will he require time adapting to the Premiership. I think he would be a good foil for Gallas, and Dunne plays for the Republic of Ireland too, so no European Championships or World Cups for him.