As predicted, he has gone there on a one-season loan. It seems unlikely that we'll see him in an Arsenal shirt again, but you never know. He may not find it any easier to hold donw a regular place with the Catalan giants (but given his reason for moving, one has to assume he's been given some kind of assureances about that).

Gio has made a statement through the official website, and they also have these comments from Arsene Wenger explaining the decision to let Gio go. He actually says that Cygan and Toure can both act as cover for Ashley Cole at left-back, which is not particularly reassuring! He does go on to mention new boy Gael Clichy though, and also Ryan Garry who is not due back from injury for another couple of months but for whom Wenger wants to "create some space" in the squad. Interestingly, he also says that Jeffers is not going out on loan "at the moment".

Meanwhile, another young full-back Juan has joined Millwall on loan, and Liam Chilvers has gone back to Colcehster, this time for 3 months. It will be his second spell with the U's, and he's also had loans at Notts County, Northampton Town, and Beveren.