A quiet day

After yesterday's "War And Peace" effort you will be pleased to know that today's post is a short one, simply because there is so little to talk about.

In the newspaper this morning Bacary Sagna has recognised that the performance in the last quarter against Celtic was not good enough, and was reminiscent of Wigan in April. Good. Let's hope the Manager saw it too, and is prepared to do something about it this time. Meanwhile Thomas Vermaelen has spoken of the need to improve oneself from season to season, which is an admirable philosophy. We'd better hope he doesn't get second season syndrome.

Sanchez Watt, who has been conspicuous by his absence from the first-team in pre-season, has been loaned to Leeds Utd for the season. This time last year Watt had appeared in the Emirates Cup and went on to score on his debut in the Carling Cup tie with West Brom. I know that he impressed people at Leeds in what was his second loan spell of the season, so it is no surprise that they wanted him back. I do wonder, though, if young Sanchez has done something to incur the ire of Arsene Wenger, hence being ostracised this Summer. Hopefully he can have a good year in the Championship and do some growing. He certainly has pace, and is a decent finisher, but he lacks bulk. Good luck to him.

Arsenal's last first-team preparation is on Saturday in Warsaw. The official website carried quotes from the Manager this morning announcing that Fabregas and Robin Van Persie will miss this game, as will Alex Song. It now seems clear that Song had not recovered from the injury he sustained at the back end of last season by the time the World Cup came around, and that is why he played in only one game for Cameroon. His absence is a massive blow and you would have to think that, with no friendlies behind them, these three will be on the bench, at best, when we go to Anfield - assuming Fabregas hasn't made his move to Barcelona. Arsene also announced that Diaby and Denilson may well get a run out in Poland. We'll have to wait and see how they go.

Finally the reserves are in action tonight at Borehamwood, which is all part of the tie-up that allows the drain on resources (and Cup Final tickets) that is Arsenal Ladies to play there. Borehamwood are letting in under-12's for free so I hope they are rewarded with a sizeable crowd.

That's your lot for today.