Toure nears exit, it's just like the summer!

I did watch the Arsenal vs Plymouth FA Cup game last Saturday but didn't feel like writing a match report as it was a bit of a walkover - plus I had to view the match via a rather horrid online stream.

What stood out from the Plymouth game?

Well, if Abou Diaby and Nicklas Bendtner can't up their game against Plymouth then you really have two lost causes on your hands. I no longer see a long-term future at Arsenal for either of those players.

I'm particularly disappointed in Diaby's performances this season, I thought he would be a quality performer but it turns out he's a one trick pony who contributes very little throughout the entirety of a football match.

The only position to employ Diaby is as an attacking central midfielder, but I would prefer to see Denilson play in that position whilst Cesc Fabregas is injured as I think the Brazilian is a better all round player and gets far more involved in the game.

Playing Diaby out of position on the left wing or as a defensive midfielder is never going to work - he's a fish out of water left side and contributes little defensively as a DM. His downright laziness in tracking players at set pieces is beginning to grate.

Would we really miss Diaby if he left? Will Diaby develop into a world class midfielder? He's 23 in 4 months, so the answer is no. Diaby should be showing a hell of a lot more potential than he is right now if he's going to be anything other than a bog standard footballing journeyman.

Any positives from the Plymouth game? Yes. Robin Van Persie's performance and Samir Nasri, who I've no doubt will develop into a wonderful player. And Bacary Sagna, who is arguably the best right back in England.

It's freezing cold outside and there's a flu epidemic in Britain, but the tabloids are helping by reprising memories of those warm(ish) summer months via their own epidemic - the January transfer rumours.

Arsenal have naturally been linked with a whole host of players. Andrei Arshavin, Jimmy Bullard, Martin Laursen, Niko Kranjcar, Matthew Upson, Mikel Arteta, Alessandro Rosina (who?) are just a few.

Of that bunch, I would take Laursen and Arteta at a heartbeat. But neither Villa or Everton will want to part with those players; they don't need the money and could only be provoked by a massive bid.

As we know, Arsenal don't do massive bids.

What of the others?

Bullard? Maybe, but not technical enough for Wenger.
Upson? No thanks.
Kranjcar? Too average.
Arshavin? Don't rate him.

Most of the smoke is surrounding Zenit Saint Petersburg's Andrei Arshavin, but I can't take seriously a player who has spent his entire career at a poxy Russian club with a 21,000 capacity.

Arshavin's nearly 28, if he was that good why has he spent 8 years plying his trade in a sub-standard Russian league?

Doubtless dozens of scouts have had Arshavin checked out over the years, no clubs have decided to make a move and clearly few are willing to pay beyond an average-sized fee. Talk of £20m is absurd.

Playing in the Premiership would be a massive culture shock for Arshavin, and history tells us that players from that region rarely set the Prem on fire. Off the top of my head, Rebrov, Shevchenko, Smertin, Voronin, Luzhny, and that useless clump at White Hart Lane.

Meanwhile, the rumour mill persists in favour of Kolo Toure's impending Arsenal exit. A rumoured £24m bid for Kolo's brother Yaya has not been denied by Barcelona or Manchester City, and Kolo Toure could fancy a new expedition, teaming up with his brother at the City of Manchester Stadium.

It might well explain his recent written transfer request.

If Man City are prepared to pay £24m for a benched defensive midfielder, they could be convinced into shelling out £15-20m for a slightly older benched Arsenal defender. If that's the case, Arsenal should sell Toure - it feels the right time to sell him on if the price is right.