Arsene Wenger is quoted as saying, "We have not yet put pen to paper, but it will happen soon. I am happy because it shows there is stability at the club and because Ashley is an excellent young player who has become stronger and better in the last year - and he is still improving. He's a great character, is a real competitor and is a great example to homegrown players at Highbury. He's shown what can be achieved".

A message to those who bleat when they leave, I guess.

Matthew Upson is said (by the Sunday Mirror) to have been offered a new 4 year deal.

Wenger is keen to undermine the image many have of Arsenal as a club where the foreign imports leave home-grown youngsters no chance of making the first-team. It's easy to see where that image comes from, for all the talk of players being about to break through, it just doesn't happen very often. Pennant, Noble, and Aliadiere were thought last season to be on the verge... which is presumably why, after Pennant and Noble were loaned out, Wenger went on record saying that Aliadiere could get a game soon.

And speaking of home-grown youngsters, we will hopefully continue to try to pinch other people's. Joe Cole's teammate Michael Carrick is alleged to have already been the subject of talks betwen West Ham and Arsenal (see KopTalk, who provide no evidence but have been right about things before).

The Carrick story may have originated with the utterly reliable Tribal Football, who say Carrick is being lined up as Vieira's replacement. At last!!! definitive proof that Paddy is leaving....