Arsenal midfielder Alex Song is facing punishment for his involvement in a disagreement with Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o. BBC Sport is reporting that Song has been fined $2,000, severely reprimanded, and ordered to spend 3 days training with young players as punishment. Eto’o was cleared of any wrongdoing in the incident, which apparently began when Song refused to shake hands with Eto’o.

In other news, Sky Sports is reporting that, although Gael Clichy has been rumored to be leaving Arsenal, Arsene Wenger is now attempting to convince the Left Back to stay. Liverpool and Roma have both been linked, but now it seems Arsene is keen on keeping Clichy.

“We have started talks with Gael and want him to stay,” said Wenger.

I think that both of these news stories point to a part of the problem with Arsenal. On one hand you have young players who show little respect for more experienced players. This is not the first incident, Nasri was involved in a row with Gallas when Nasri refused to move from a seat reserved for Thierry Henry. Gallas’ comments about attempts to teach the young players at Arsenal not being well received are another indicator, regardless of whatever you may think of Gallas.

If this young Arsenal club doesn’t respond to advice from older, more experienced players who HAVE won the silverware, what good will it do to sign experience this summer? Trying to bring in a player like Parker or Samba, who have experience, but not a ton of experience winning… why would a young Arsenal player accept anything that they have to say? If our young players are uninterested in listening when a veteran has something to say, then the benefit of bringing in experienced leaders is greatly diminished.

In regards to Clichy, I can’t understand why the sudden determination to keep the want-away player. My guess is that Arsene has failed in pursuit of Enrique, and Everton have put a price tag on Baines so high that only Manchester City can buy him without going bankrupt. So Arsene, ever the penny-pincher, has decided it will be cheaper to sell his dignity and try and convince yet another player who wants to leave that Arsenal is indeed the place for him.

Is it just me? Or does this seem completely wrong to everyone else too? Why is Arsene bound and determined to hang on to the players who want to leave? It makes our club look sad and desperate to watch Arsene do his impression of an old lady swatting her handbag at a mugger every summer when Barcelona comes sniffing around for Fabregas.

Keeping players at Arsenal that don’t wish to be here any longer is a poor idea. Thank them for their service, move them on to a place they can be happy, collect a check from the purchasing team, and go find players that think playing for Arsenal is a privilege, not a punishment. Surely these players still exist?

As always, whether you agree with me or not, I invite you to let your thoughts be known in our newly-launched Arsenal Forum!