It may have been news that we were already aware of, but yesterday came the confirmation that Abou Diaby was finally being released from his contract at Arsenal, and is now in the process of finding a new club. Rumours are abound that he’s on the verge of signing for FC Dallas in the MLS and perhaps this is exactly the type of move that could be good for him. New scenery, nicer climate that may treat his fragile body better, as well as an opportunity to become an absolute beast in a weaker league. I think most people will wish him well.

His time at Arsenal will, unfortunately, forever be defined by the closing stages of an away game to Sunderland in 2006 in which he was scythed down in a malicious challenge by a guy who shouldn’t have remained on the pitch and now doesn’t even grace Premier League pitches. Nobody would know it at the time, but the actions of Dan Smith have cost a very good player a regular career in the top flight.

Diaby was good. It’s impossible to know how good because of the circumstances that befell him, but I saw in sporadic matches, the type of player who could drift past players effortlessly with the ball, whose body belied his overall ability and somebody who, if he could only have maintained fitness for a prolonged period of time, could have potentially have been as good as Vieira. He was a different type of player and earlier in his career the comparisons led him to publicly state so, but I’m talking about the impact he could have had at Arsenal.

It’s a shame that it has to end the way it has, but it’s the best for all parties concerned, and Arsenal have certainly done more than enough to support Abou. After all, it’s not like he goes off to America short of a non or two, eh?!?

The rest of the news out there still seems to be focused around Petr Cech. On the website our new signing has spoken of the reaction of the Arsenal fans, as well as the possibilities at the club. Away from the official site and stepping in to deepest, darkest realms of evil, Jose has finally spoken about the transfer. His words probably came as no surprise, as he publicly supported the ‘keeper and wishes him well, but with Jose there always has to be something reflected back at him or his club, so in the statement it was about how amazing Chelski are to put the wishes of the player before anything else. It was an attempt to turn his back on the fact that Arsenal have improved and since the deal was announced he has probably gnashed his teeth down to stubby stumps, so I’m not surprised that he’s tried to spin a story his way. Whatever. The important thing is that we’re on cloud nine at them moment and with the Community Shield exactly one month from today, we’ve already got some football on the horizon to look forward to. Goody.

Carl Jenkinson looks to have his suitors upped by one this morning, as West Ham have expressed interest in his signature for another season and I hope the club do tie him down to another deal before he goes, because I still believe he can have a role to play. Bellerin may have stepped forward in the queue (typical Spanish!) for regular right-back football at Arsenal, but with Debuchy turning 31 by the time next season comes around, one more years experience of regular football for The Corporal will do him good. I’ve always said I thought him a good player and with more games under his belt he can get better, so in my mind it would be mad to sell him off to a club like West Ham just yet. Let him get his experience away from Arsenal and then, much as I hate to reference a Spud scenario, like Ryan Mason who didn’t break through in to the Spud first team until he had gone through a number of loan deals – or even Le Coq’s experiences on loan before breaking through – let those be an example that he can still have the belief that he can make it at Arsenal.

That’s pretty much all I gots for today for ya. Podolski may look like he’s on the brink of a move to Turkey, but there’s no point in writing his Arsenal career obituary until it’s actually happened, so I’ll say ‘toodle-ooo’ to you.