The hacks have been having a field day, linking Freddie with West Ham (who denied it) and Tottenham (as if!) as well as Internazionale in Italy (who Sky quote as saying he could be an ideal replacement for Luis Figo... at the end of the season).

One can imagine Freddie being pretty unhappy with all the talk, so it's nice to see Wenger lauding his "dedication and contribution to the team's success" and citing his attitude and winners' attitude as reasons for thinking he can still be a useful member of Arsenal's squad.

Too bloody right. He may have lost a bit of pace, he may not be scoring like he used to when Dennis Bergkamp was around, he may not (ok he doesn't) command a first-choice starting position anymore ahead of Alexander Hleb, Tomas Rosicky, Julio Baptista, and Theo Walcott (and that's just for starters). But when Arsenal are looking lacklustre and/or hassled in those grim games we've seen too many of this season, is there anyone we'd rather come off the bench to show a bit of bottle and run around like a maniac? Freddie never gives less than 100%, and while we're pushing forward on 4 fronts it'd be crazy to get rid of him. The youngsters are good, but he brings something to the pitch that none of them can, and he's had Arsenal blood flowing through his veins longer than any player at the club.

The Mirror, for example, say that his sale was being pushed to fund a bid for Frank Ribery - thus making an assumption that Arsenal weren't looking to buy in the transfer window because of a lack of money (an assumption which looks a bit dumb after last night). And they claimed that Freddie was going to demand a huge pay off to get Arsenal out of his contract. Come back Arsenal fan Piers Morgan, you wouldn't have let them print such crap, surely? (Mind you, we've got to applaud their "Baps rout four the lads" headline today).

Please please please let him stay. Thank you.

The rumour about Lauren looks more likely to be true, if only because Wenger isn't responding by bigging him up as an Arsenal player for the future, and because the Irons aren't denying it like they are with Freddie. Sky Sports, for example, claim that talks are already under way. It makes more sense. Lauren'll be out of contract in the summer, and if/when he recovers fitness after his long lay-off, he'd be facing a massive task at Arsenal to get back ahead of Emmanuel Eboue and Justin Hoyte in the pecking order. And lets' not forget Kerrea Gilbert who's on loan at Cardiff at the moment (come on, Cardiff!). It's possible that he'd prefer a move back to Spain, but assuming he's fit enough, one can imagine Alan Curbishley pulling out all the stops to land the former Cameroon international, if only on a short term deal for the rest of the season. He's got just the experience and steel which they could do with. If he gets and stays fit, which is a gamble since he's been out almost a year.

It's been suggested that Arsenal might loan Lauren to the Boleyn for the rest of the year, which would make sense as a way of helping decide whether or not to hold on to him for next season, if it weren't for the fact that he'd be out of contract come the summer anyway. Better to let him go and get some cash. He's only 29, with bags of experience and medals... should be worth a few bob still.

It's been suggested that Lauren walked out of training when told that, despite being ready, he wasn't in the squad for last night's League Cup. We'll take that with a pinch of salt, thanks. Seems like some sections of the media are responding to Arsenal's success this week in the usual way - trying to create or stir up problems in the camp.

Am I being fickle, saying keep Freddie but let Lauren go? Yeah, probably. But it's not just me, is it? Arsenal fans appreciate Lauren, but love Freddie Ljungberg, and that's just the way it is.

The Online Gooner's current poll, incidentally, asks which of 5 players we'd rather get rid of in the transfer window (assuming that one of them has to go). Freddie and Lauren are currently vying for first place in this poll, way out in front of Manuel Almunia, Julio Baptista, and Mathieu Flamini. I'm assuming they picked the 5 before the last couple of games - it's hard to see anyone wanting shot of Almunia or the Beast right now. We can also only assume that the 2 votes for the latter came before he scored 4 great goals at Anfield.

I'm not sure we're in position to sell him anyway, seeing as we're currently only borrowing him from Real Madrid.

Anyways.... Flamini? Flamini?! What damn fool's voted for him to go?