More like going, going, going... But some ropey news reported a few minutes ago - not confirmed or seen by any sources that I would trust... that Hleb deal has been agreed and he will fly to Barcelona tomorrow for a medical.

Take with heavy pinch of salt at this moment. I think it will happen - but not just yet.

I think the back tracking that made the news this week was honest actually, rather than the suedo “please like me comments” the papers would like to have it be.


Also Ray Parlour is set to retire due to injury. He has been training at Barnet but won't be offered a deal after struggling with a knee injury. This word gets banded about far too often for my liking, used out of context and because people don't have a wide enough vocablulary - but today I will jump on the band-wagon and use it too. LEGEND. I won't rehash and cut & paste other news reports about him that will circulate today you can read those yourselves. I will however, extend a massive thank you to a man who loved the club. 20 years he was at Arsenal. 20 YEARS. Joined at 12 and left at 32. Even after he left I'm sure he kept an eye on our scores (maybe even a couple of perms on the littlewoods pools too).


A number of our reserves have recently signed pro contracts - Midfielders Henri Lansbury and Jay Thomas, defenders Kyle Bartley and Thomas Cruise, and forwards Rhys Murphy and Sanchez Watt. Enter the first team squad.

So at this stage of the close season our first team (trying to find Squad details) looks like this :

1. Manuel Almunia 

2. Abou Diaby 

3. Bacary Sagna

4. Cesc Fabregas 

5. Kolo Toure 

6. Philippe Senderos

7. Tomas Rosicky 

9.  Eduardo 

10. William Gallas

11. Robin Van Persie

12. Carlos Vela 

13. Alexander Hleb 

14. Theo Walcott 

15.  Denilson 

16. Aaron Ramsey

17. Alexandre Song 

19.  Gilberto

20. Johan Djourou 

21. Lukasz Fabianski 

22. Gael Clichy

24. Vito Mannone 

25. Emmanuel Adebayor 

26. Nicklas Bendtner 

27. Emmanuel Eboue 

30. Armand Traore 

31. Justin Hoyte
Kerrea Gilbert - (Awaiting Shirt Number)

Mark Randall - (Awaiting Shirt Number)

Note - we have no number 8 or 18. Sound irrelevant ? Well - I was the man in favour of retiring the 8 shirt after Ian Wright Wright Wright left. Freddie was a grand player - but in the shadow of Ian's shirt... well.

All the other reports today were about Adebayor and just have the same opinions that I had yesterday, so I might just re title yesterdays blog and resubmit it !

Bis Später Gooners ! [ 9th July 2008 - more at www.dubaibury.com ]