24 year old Borch plays for Tromso, and was spotted by Arsenal scouts playing for them against the likes of Brondby and IFK Gothenberg in the Scandinavian Royal League. Borch is under no misapprehensions about the challenge in front of him. "This is just great. Arsenal have some of the greatest players in the world, so it will be a special moment for me when I meet them. I will just go over there and try and do my best. I do not dare to think about what could happen if I do well. Just going over there will be a great experience for me."

So, is he suitably awed by the prospect of playing with the Gunners, or is just lacking the arrogance one normally associates with top keepers? I guess we could teach him the latter it if comes to it.

He's certainly got a great name and I'd like to see him play for us if only for the fantastic chant opportunities, not least of which is a certain song made famous by Ike and Tina Turner...

Eirik tells me that the surname is pronouned something like 'bawrk' (but I'm sure we won't let something like corect pronunciation get in the way of a good pun). He also provided the following on Borch's career so far:

"Seeing that Rosenborg has won the Norwegian league every year since 1992, I don't pay too much attention to the games being played here. When I read that Borch was given a trial at Arsenal, I had no idea who he was. Still, here are some facts for you - he was born in 1980, he's played for Tromsų since 1986. He's been a member of the first team squad for six years, but only became the first choice last year, after his rival broke his leg. This season he played in all 26 games, but, very disappointingly, he only picked up one yellow card in all those matches. Doesn't sound like an Arsenal player to me. Also, he's a student (probably at the University of Tromsų), and is halfway through his medical studies. Again, does this sound like an Arsenal player? He's tall (194 cm - around 6ft4?). As far as i can tell, he's never been in the squad for the national team. Thomas Myhre of Sunderland is the first choice of the national team, with Espen Johnsen of Rosenborg a close second. If Johnsen performs to his usual erratic standards today, we can only imagine what Borch is like. Tromsų finished fourth in the league year, and qualified for the Scandinavian Royal League. Borch has supposedly performed very well there, which is the reason for Arsenal's interest."