He told the Daily Star, "Obviously I am not going to be happy if I am not starting enough games. I'm 28 years old now, and that is too old to be sitting on the substitutes' bench. I want to play like everybody else. If I feel I am getting enough chances to prove myself there is no problem, and at the moment I am committed to doing well at Arsenal. But if things change - as they can do quickly - like anybody else I would have to look at my options."

These comments have beem widely overinterpreted, with headlines such as "play me or else" & "I will quit gunners". With continued speculation that West Ham are continuing their interest (and maybe Sunderland too, especially now that Don Hutchison has moved from the latter to the former), some hacks seem to have Ray already out the door. But what's he actually saying? He wants to play.

He's not saying he has to play most games or he's leaving, as the Guadrain put it. Although we have a new regular midfielder in Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Lauren has moved to right back and Grimandi isn't getting much action. So there doesn't appear to be any more competition for Ray's place than before. We expect him to carry on getting enough games to keep him happy.