The boss then spoke for 15 minutes.

• He made it clear how much he loves the club and strongly hinted for the first time that he is prepared to sign a new contract or an extension if terms could be agreed.
• We still have an option on Edu until Jan 1. Wenger still wants him and he wants to come.
• Stepanovs is not ready to play in the first team and is more one for the future (hence buying him after the deadline for Champions League).
• He thinks the current transfer law proposals will signal the end of football as we know it and that the proposals must be stopped.
• He thinks the Championship is wide open and he was very upbeat about the prospects for the season and is confident that we can get through the first phase of Champions League this time. He made it clear he prefers to be at Highbury.
• Overmars and Petit wanted to go but we got an excellent price for them.

• The stadium: The chairman refused to talk in detail about the stadium process other than to say there were lots of hurdles to get through. Later though, there was then a 10 minute slide show on the plan for the new stadium. All new age glass and elliptical curves. It looked very stylish although not at all traditional but I suppose for £200 million it should look good! Hill Wood admitted that they will have to take on some debt even after Highbury is sold. Everything will be clearer by the end of October when when they have to submit an application.
• People were a bit reserved about the Granada deal although this will be the subject of a further shareholder meeting. The money is primarily to pay for the new stadium should Arsenal get planning permission although Hill Wood tried to make it clear that Wenger would get any money that he needed to buy players.