With speculation over Thomas Vermaelen’s future rumbling away, the links to potential replacements have resurfaced. This time the defender in question is Adil Rami of Valencia, a player Arsenal were interested in during his Lille days.

The source suggests that Manchester United are also interested, although there are question marks as to whether either side should be looking at Rami.

His release clause is around £20 million, which is a great deal to pay for a defender a level below that which either club’s fans would hope to sign. He’s a consistent performer for Valencia, but not fantastic or especially commanding.

Unfortunately that sounds like a like-for-like Vermaelen replacement with his current form, but this sounds more like 2+2 being made to equal 2532950, as normal.

Rich list

*fascinating financial news klaxon*

Arsenal are estimated by Forbes to be the fourth-most-valuable football team in the world, behind Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United. Arsenal are valued at around 1.33 billion dollars, which is Quite A Lot.

This could lead to the usual complaints about frugality, but it’s worth pointing out that this is a valuation of Arsenal’s complete assets, that being shares and equity and all the other economic nonsense. So really, it’s a mild curiousity.

Slow news day, OK?

Predicted line-up

There are a few, if not many, selection headaches for Arsene this weekend. The Everton game proved a few things, mainly that Theo Walcott is still shirking responsibility, and Jack Wilshere is operating at about 60 percent right now. Both could be replaced, by one of Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Lukas Podolski.

Either left-back selected should be fine (Fulham have few natural wingers), and the rest of the back four should pick itself.

Another dilemma could be whether Olivier Giroud should be dropped. He had a nightmare against Everton but worked hard as ever. His misses were more a result of trying too hard and becoming frustrated than some incorrigible lack of ability, as suggested by some after the game.

I’d ask how a man who’s scored 17 goals during his first season of English football is still having questions asked of his ability to successfully score, but that’s a can of worms I’m not prepared for right now. Worms taste icky.

Lukas Podolski could replace him, and Wenger has stated he’s used him through the middle more often of late, in case he’s required.

However, Poldi’s never succeeded as a lone striker before, and it’s a bit too close to crunch time to start experimenting. I expect Giroud to continue. If he keeps shooting, he’ll score eventually.

Expected line-up:

Sczceszny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey; Walcott, Rosicky, Cazorla; Giroud

Latest: