Cesc to Spain...
In the annual Barcelona and Real Madrid try to unsettle our best players routine, this year Barcelona are first out of the blocks to announce that Cesc Fabregas will not be joining Real Madrid at the end of the season, which was nice of them, saves Arsene Wenger a job. They reckon they have made a pre-contract, pre-contract, pre-contract agreement with David Dein way back in 1984 when Cescs parents felt a bit frisky one balmy Spanish evening...

It's also claimed on www.bollocksrumours.com that 'Arsene Wenger is believed to be bracing himself' ahead of a move from AC Milan for Theo Walcott and Denilson...

Keepers Linked...
As the transfer window is lurched open to allow a bit of Siberian snow in, and a few youngsters out and back in from loan spells, there are reports of a couple of keepers stiring up Sir Wenger's interest. There's claims that Le Boss is looking at Espanyol's keeper Kiko Casillas. It's still being rumoured that Jens Lehmann could almost certainly be off this month, unhappy at being usurped by Manuel Almunia, Le Boss's first choice betwixt the sticks... On that note, Bob Wilson has been handed an OBE by the Queen, but perhaps she's biased being a Gooner. Who knows?

More Rumours...
There's also more talk that Lasagna Diarra could be off, with Spurs, Portsmouth and Everton being two decent clubs that could be after him...

No Need to Shop...
William Gallas claims that we don't need to hit the sales during the transfer window, and we'll be just fine with our existing squad as Kolo Toure, Alex Song and Emanuel Eboue heads to the African Cup of Nations. Gallas reckons that Senderos and Johan Djourou can provide adequate cover. He said: "I don't really expect us to sign anyone. I think everything is fine, perhaps if one player does leave then we have to buy, but if that is not the case then I think everything is okay as we are..."

After forming an amazing partnership with Toure, Gallas added: "Kolo is very important for the squad because he is very strong. He has good qualities and my relationship with him has been very good, but we have good players in the squad and someone else will be able to play. If you play for Arsenal you are very good and I hope my relationship with them will be good too. We will miss Kolo, but I can only say how much after a few weeks..."

Welcome Matt...
Never get tired of that one, QPR have announced the signing of Matthew Connolly, following a successful loan spell at Colchester's Colchester United. The 20 year old said: "It's very difficult to make the breakthrough at a club like Arsenal, so when QPR made an offer I knew it was the right time to move on. Arsenal provided me with a great launch pad, but I need to be playing first-team football at my age and this is a fantastic club for me to pursue my career at..." Good luck MC...

Meanwhile, the club have allowed Reserve striker Jay Simpson, 19, stay at Millwall until the end of the season...

Fran-kly Who Knows...?
Confusion reigns over the future of Spanish starlet Fran Merida, with some reports claiming he has come back to Arsenal, and others saying that he is all set to join Spanish club Real Sociedad.

The Sun says: "This is definitely just a temporary switch as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger thinks very highly of Fran. It was decided that it was the best thing to help the kid's development for him to go on loan for six months, but Fran will be coming back at the end of the season and he's confident he will stake a claim for a first-team place next season."..

Shorts...
According to John Cravens' Arsenal News Review Round Up, Sir Wenger has said that RVP is just 10 days away from playing again...

Nice.