In a statement released on Arsenal.com, Arsene Wenger says he will release the club's French internationals for their (ahem) controversial friendly Down Under in November, after all.

In a slightly unwise choice of words considering events elsewhere in the world, Wenger says: 'We don't want to go to war with the French Football Federation, but we did want to address the problem. It is difficult to accept that France make two long trips in such a short space of time, but if my players are selected and if they are fit I will send them.'

Hmm... we can't help noticing the escape clause in there - 'if they're fit'. Not that we'd suggest that Arsenal might be struck with an epidemic of Ryan-Giggs-itis or anything...