Gervinho signing heralds mostly good news

Eleven days into July, Arsenal are in Kuala Lumpur for a pre season tour and Mr Wenger has been facing up to the media. In doing so, he has revealed that all those Gooners- of whom there are many- baying for a new signing can relax a little bit. Yes, Arsène has taken a break from signing pre-teens and toddlers, hacking phones for News International and added a real life, proper, footballer to our ranks. The, slightly, protracted signing of Gervinho is done. I'm a bit concerned by the fact that Gervinho's real name is Gervais, as every time I hear it I keep thinking of Ricky Gervais. I guess it explains the Brazilian-ing up of his name though (yes, I just made a word up there). It also leaves open the tantalising prospect of being able to scream "Go on Rickaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!" at him (yes, just like Bianca off Eastenders) as he tears Patrice Evra a new one.

Positive thoughts, Paul, positive... and welcome, Gervinho.

In other news, well, it's all mostly good so far. Though I do consider that Le Boss is taking something of a gamble in promoting Kieran Gibbs to first choice left back, following the sale of Gaël Clichy (thanks for everything, except Birmingham. And Spurs), we shouldn't forget that he was some prospect just two years ago. Before injuries took hold of course. He certainly won't improve by sitting on the bench, that's for sure.

Of course, that's not the news that we're really concerned about, is it? Not with the futures of club captain Fabregas and Samir Nasri up for debate. I feel like I've said what I want to about this, hence my relative silence in the almost total lack of anything else to talk about. Protracted signings of ski slope foreheaded Africans aside. However, I'll reiterate here as Arsène has spoken today of his intention to keep both players at the club. For me, Fabregas may wish to return to Barcelona (and I do think he will get his wish), but it isn't going to happen until Barcelona get serious about signing him. Which, clearly, means offering Arsenal enough money to at least make Gazidis and company consider a sale, especially when he's got four years left on his contract.

As for Nasri, he's a a good player and we don't want to lose him. But I don't like what he's done to the club and- bearing in mind that he will literally be free to sign for whoever he wants in six months- I think I would prefer us to take some money for him this summer and get rid. And then spend money on a proper replacement. We need players here who want to be here and who are prepared to fight for the cannon on their chests. This is, before any of you point out the glaring contradiction in my attitudes towards both players, where I see the difference is. I do believe that Fabregas loves this club- he's give us eight years. You can't say the same about Samir. Luka Modric's situation at Spurs shows, though, that we're not the only club being dicked around by a player who really should know better.

Nicklas Bendtner and Manuel Almunia have been left off the tour to try and sort out moves away from north London. I don't suppose they'll be missed by anyone, I would go so far as to say that on the day Almunia signs on the dotted line with a club that isn't Arsenal, I'm straight down the offy for a bottle of champagne. It's not quite "thanks for nothing", but it is "thanks for nothing, apart from the penalty saves". Ironically, there was one magic day in December, 2007 when both Bendtner and Almunia were heroes together, like the song says, "just for one day". Almunia saved a penalty from Robbie Keane at one all in the North London Derby and minutes later, Bendtner scored the winning goal just seconds after arriving as a substitute. That that might legitimately be regarded as the high point of both players careers at the club says much about them and much about where we have found ourselves over the last five years. I do suspect, though, that Bendtner will go and score a shed load of goals for someone who knows how to use him properly.

And on that note... speak soon.

Disclaimer: No phones were hacked during the writing of this blog. At least, that's the answer I'm giving now..

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