I begin with the saddest news Arsenal fans will likely ever hear. A true legend, a man who will linger long in the memories of Arsenal fans everywhere, seems set to make an exit from the club. It’s hard to see how the team will recover from this loss, and I can’t see us getting into the top half of the table without him.

That’s right everyone. Sebastian Squillaci is leaving.

Sky Sports have reported on TV, but not on their site, that he is in talks with Olympiacos after Arsenal agreed a fee with the Greek club for his sale. It’s hard to see how Arsenal managed to convince them that Squillaci was their man, but it’s possible Wenger edited his face onto footage of Koscielny from last season. That or the fee is actually us paying them. Nevertheless, he’s been taking up wage space and terrifies Arsenal fans whenever he sets foot on the pitch.

Just as an aside, Manchester United have apparently offered us £19.5 million and Danny Welbeck on loan for Van Persie. While it’s most likely bull, as loaning a player with one year left on his contract is utterly stupid, if it’s true I find it almost amusing. First they think they can scare Arsenal into selling by being high and mighty, now they think we’re Sunderland. Classic. And their IPO failed miserably.

Darren Dein’s Naughty Song

The most persistent transfer rumour in recent weeks has been Barcelona’s courtship of Alex Song. It started out as an easily-disregarded murmur, but has grown exponentially, as Barcelona players have started their usual tapping-up of him to the media, as they always do when they want to sign someone. It seemed more and more likely that Song was going to be wooed to the Nou Camp, with the promise of a nice warm bench and extra oranges.

But not so, it seems.

Apparently the escalating rumours have been set into motion by Darren Dein, Alex’s agent. He’s the son of former Arsenal chief exec David Dein, as you may know, and he’s been integral in the movement of several Arsenal players to Barca ever since his dad resigned. Sour grapes? Perish the thought. In this case however, the rumours are apparently largely baseless, and it’s just to get a better deal for Song. It’s not a very nice way to do business, but I suppose it’s better than losing another player and being branded a feeder club AGAIN.

Cesc-ikins to the rescue

While other Barcelona players like Iniesta and Busquets were talking about how wonderful Song would be there to the press, like the sneaky little footballing genius worms they are, Cesc Fabregas regained a lot of respect from Arsenal fans by refusing to join in the party. When asked about the rumour, he answered with something along the lines of:

“I don’t like to talk about players from other clubs, and especially not Arsenal players.”

It seems that despite being sucked in by the same techniques over a period of two years, that our former captain realises the damage such things can do to a club, and clearly does retain some degree of affection towards his old club. And for that I say to him: “Well done Cesc. Now into the time machine so none of this mess ever happened in the first place.”

I just need to build the time machine first.

Until tomorrow, children.

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