With the first game of the new season over it is time for Arsene to be looking for some new blood, again. He has quite often publicly admitted to needing another center-back and there is continuing speculation over the future of ‘keeper Manuel Almunia – who is unsettled due to the consistent links with Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Over the past 24-48 hours I have been hearing quite a few mutterings about Phil Jagielka once again, word is that we will go back to Everton with another, much larger bid, than the original £6m we offered them. At the time Everton were interested in doing business with Tomas Rosicky being part of the deal but Arsenal flatly rejected the bid – whether any of this will actually amount to anything remains to be seen as its said that Everton might use Jagielka to raise funds to invest elsewhere in their squad – I have heard a Spurs players name crop up so its just something to keep an eye on.

I’m really not too convinced that we will go for Jagielka, he is overpriced and with a starting birth in the England team’s defence for the foreseeable future that will only add to his price tag, and we know how Arsene likes to watch over the pennies. What is it me nan says? ‘Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves’ – I should encourage Arsene to give me nan a ring, I’m sure she agrees with his financial prudence.

I think Arsenal might just be backing themselves into a corner here, its obvious teams will know that we really do need to recruit a couple of players and prices will reflect this, so whilst Man City’s quiet spell in the market has allowed prices to drop a little, I don’t see how waiting any longer could majorly decrease any fee that we have to pay.

Late yesterday afternoon some comments from the usually quiet Manuel Almunia emerged regarding his current situation at the club, it basically says, “you buy Schwarzer, I’m off”:

‘If somebody comes in, I will have to talk about my future at Arsenal. That is it. I cannot talk now, because the talking would be for nothing. I have to work and if one day I am not good for Arsenal, I will talk. That is no problem. I am very happy here.’

You can’t blame him for being concerned and quite frankly I think that the way the whole goalkeeping situation as a whole has been handled is shameful – the boss went on about not wanting to harm the goalkeepers confidence by coming out outright and commenting on the goalkeeping situation and the continued speculation is going to do just as much damage. We had a bid for Schwarzer turned down, the club ended their interest last week and that meant Schwarzer’s camp responded by handing in a request for a transfer. Its a big mess.

In the Mirror today, John Cross writes that Arsenal are hoping to get Schwarzer in before the game against Blackpool on Saturday and this is a guy who first broke the news of interest in the keeper before the end of last season. He maintains that it is going to go through and he is a trustworthy journalist so I really am inclined to side with that article.

I really don’t know what to think right now, I’m convinced all the Shay Given rumours and claims are complete and utter tosh – City would not sell to a top four club and Arsenal rejected him a couple of seasons back when a deal was very close so I really can’t see that one happening in a million years. It all points to Mark Schwarzer, I have been told numerous times that the deal is on/off/on/off and it has got to the point where you just have to wait and see what occurs – its our of our hands as fans and ultimately, we are powerless and have to hope that the people in the right places make the right call.

Over the next couple of days I will be away but I should still be active on Twitter, and if I can get hold of a decent internet connection you will still have your morning dose of shabby, gloomy and unending transfer news.

Til next time.