Wenger has told Edu that he needs to decide by the end of next week whether or not to accept Arsenal's contract offer. It seems very unlikely that he will, and Valencia boss Claudio Ranieri has stated that he's very keen to sign the player. Whether we manage to sell him in the transfer window or he stays until the end of the season, if Edu doesn't sign then he won't play for us again. The end of next week is the 21st so that would only leave 10 days for the club to bring in a replacement.

But Le Boss is more confident that Lauren will stay. Perhaps the fact that Eboue has arrived (and didn't have too bad a debut) and that Justin Hoyte has been progressing nicely (and has signed a new 3 and a half year deal) has made Lauren realise that he's not in quite a strong position as he thought.

Ashley Cole is still in talks over his contract, but there doesn't seem to be anything to worry about there. He says that he's not being greedy, he just wants "to be paid on my ability and what I've achieved", but that's pretty much what Wenger has said said too. "I don't want to move, this is definitely the club for me. I love the place," says Cole, and the feeling is mutual.

Apparently, David Dein has been on holiday but is back now so Cole is expecting things to be resolved soon (and that may go for the other contract and transfer issues). Cole has also stated that he;s unlikely ever to play in Spain, because of the abuse he received playing against them for England.