An interview in today's edition of the French sports daily 'L'Equipe' seems to be the final nail in the coffin of Nicolas Anelka's Highbury career.

'My priority is to join Real Madrid but if that does not work out why not Lazio?' reads a quote (translated by AFP). 'I prefer that than to return to Arsenal. I would have no problem going to Italy. I always planned to play there one day.'

They also have a quote from Wenger, currently on holiday following a knee operation (?): 'Everything will be sorted out before the start of training on July 13.'

Let's hope so. Arseweb has - on many occasions - expressed concerns that such comments from Anelka to the French press are reported out of context, or badly translated, or both... so we advise some caution here. But it would be miraculous if there were to be so much smoke with no fire.