Hello again to everyone, it is nice to back, after taking a little summer holiday. It’s even nicer to see the pictures from London Colney, football is right around the corner again. It was great sight to see all the lad’s back in training, of course, minus one French full-back.

Since I’ve been away, I’d like to take this moment to wish all the best to Gael Clichy. Thanks for your years of service, and best of luck helping City with their “faux-Arsenal” team that seem determined to build. I’m almost surprised they haven’t bid for Pat Rice yet.

I’ve been hearing a lot of frustration among fans about the fact that players like Denilson, Bendtner and Almunia are still with the team, but there are no new faces to be seen around the training ground, unless you count Miyaichi (“like a new signing,” anyone?).

The reality is that some signings are close, some are being considered, and some are very unlikely. Being linked to mouth-watering players like Falcao or Benzema is all fine and well, but these are most often rumors and hearsay, if not total fabrication.

People also seem frustrated that the “deadwood” is still around, and back training with the club. Why wouldn’t they be in training? They are still under contract, and as most of us already knew, and Arsene seems to be finding out, players like Denilson and Bendtner aren’t exactly in high demand.

The Daily Mail has reported that latest contestant in the “Who can we convince/hoodwink into taking Denilson off our hands?” sweepstakes is Villareal. So, we shall see what happens. The alternative appears to be listening to Denilson get showered in boo’s everytime he gets within a mile of the Emirates, not something that anyone look’s forward to.

So, having just discussed my distaste for the summer rumors…

Here’s Some Summer Rumors

Actually, these ones are much more official than rumor, as Sky Sports is reporting that while Gervinho is reported to be in London to undergo a physical, Argentinian club Velez Sarsfield has announced they have agreed to terms with Inter over rumored Arsenal target Ricky Alvarez.

It’s nice that Gervinho appears to be close to joining the Gunners, and I look forward to seeing what he can bring to the Arsenal attack next season. If he can get settled and find his form he can be an effective addition to the squad.

Ricky Alvarez going to Italy is a bit of a surprise, because he has been one of the most consistently linked names this summer, and since he is fairly young and more or less completely unknown outside Argentina (until now I suppose), he appeared to be a typical “Arsene” signing.

Personally, I’m not totally convinced Arsenal were ever seriously in for him, the asking price was a little high for an inexperienced player with injury issues, but the only ones who really know the situation are the two clubs involved. I’m sure he could have benefited Arsenal, but I don’t think he was the best route to go, especially when most of us are hoping for more established quality.

We are inching ever closer to the start of preseason, and I will be very interested in finding out which players Arsene chooses to bring along to Asia. The season’s almost upon us, and whatever reservations or misgivings you might have about the board, the manager or the players, its time to start putting them aside and approaching the new season as exactly that. It’s a fresh start, and as fans we should not handicap the new season by continuing to dwell on last season.