It appears that there has been some kind of mix-up over paper-work, but it also seems that Espanyol were far from forced into this. Alex told Spanish paper Marca, "I came here and signed with the intention of staying. I don't understand anything,".

Marca say Manninger is flying back to London. Whether he'll end up the answer to Arsenal's 3rd keeper problem remains to be seen. He hasn't seemed particularly enamoured of the Arsenal over the last couple of years (like Richard Wright, he was a victim of David Seaman's longevity), and suggestions that Arsenal's failure to provide documents to Espanyol to help finalise the deal was a significant factor in this week's events seem unlikely to have changed his mind.

See previous stories (listed to the right) for more on the "3rd keeper" mini-saga.