Well, he certainly isn’t your traditional number 10, but from what one would presume to be the player’s expressed preference (he was originally going to get Ashley Cole’s squad number), I think it’s fair to say that William Gallas is making it abundantly clear he wants nothing to do with the left back position. And as the centre backs are more critical to the side than the full backs, on a reputed £80k a week, it certainly makes sense to play the ex-Chavski star in his preferred position.

Some remember Steve Bould wearing the number up at Anfield in 1989 (and at Old Trafford a few weeks earlier if the memory serves me), but I can’t think of any other defenders ever appearing with that number, which makes it highly significant that Arsenal have agreed to the player’s wishes. Most fans would have thought the 10 shirt would have taken a couple of seasons’ break, in deference to its previous occupant, but I suspect the gesture to Gallas may have been seen as more important in welcoming him to his new ‘family’ (to borrow a phrase I read somewhere recently) than pleasing the now-retired footballer formerly known as ‘God’, whose only form of protest now can be to not renew his executive box at Ashburton. But in truth, I doubt Dennis is as precious about it as some fans might be.

On other matters, I went along to the Brazil v Argentina friendly last Sunday. With apologies to our female readers, your Ed has red blood in the veins and have instructed my other half to call the undertaker the day I stop turning my head when I see an attractive female. And there was a hell of a lot of head turning on Sunday afternoon. If only all matches at Arsenal’s new stadium could be like this. A fine enhancement to the experience of watching two quality international teams play a friendly like it meant something.

Black marks to Arsenal though for preventing the Brazilians doing a warm down on the pitch after the match. They turned the sprinklers on and an argument ensued between Dunga, his staff and the Arsenal jobsworths who would not turn the sprinklers off and let them have use of the pitch for ten minutes. How goddamn petty is that, especially given the number of times Arsenal players have warmed down abroad after Champions League ties? What a way to treat your honoured guests? ‘The Beast’ Baptista, having only played 15 minutes, was one of those forced to do a more limited warm down along the touchline. I can’t imagine what he was thinking at that moment about his new employers. If Arsène Wenger was present, I suspect he would have intervened to ensure the Samba Boys could go through their normal routine.

At least Arsenal managed to sell out the fixture, something Tottenham, with a far lesser capacity, managed to do at the Lane last night. I’ve also heard that there were fans outside who were not allowed admittance because they turned up wanting to buy tickets on the night – which they had presumably been told was possible. Maybe the box office staff were more interested in watching some decent football than doing their jobs – let’s face it that’s pretty rare at Spurs these days, so I can hardly blame them. I was also interested to see some of the stands decorated with the phrase, “To dare it to do”, presumable a translation of their Latin motto. My mind went back to the glorious May 7th and I thought that maybe it would be more accurate to change that a little. I mean, “To dare is to poo” surely captures the essence of what Tottenham are about in 2006? Time for a little updating chaps, I mean you’ve re-done the logo haven’t you?

The facilities at Tottenham were probably a bit of an eye opener for the Brazilians after Sunday, and I don’t doubt that despite the post-match pettiness at Ashburton, Julio Baptista probably realised that he was right to reject Tottenham’s overtures and plump for Arsenal. And on that note, how many international teams use Spurs’ facilities at Chigwell? London Colney is the preferred location. I think Brazil may have used the Gunners’ facilities this time around and I know it’s been used by England amongst others. The gulf between the two Clubs is actually widening despite last season’s Premiership scare – partly a result of Tottenham playing a grand total of two Cup ties in the whole season, in comparison to the 20 of the Wenger’s charges.

Your Ed is a lot more optimistic about things since the last time I wrote, in the aftermath of the Man City match. Aside from the left back position – which is reliant on the successful recovery of Gael Clichy – Arsenal now look to have a decent squad with the wantaways successfully placed elsewhere. Denilson, Sho Ito and Fran Merida are all fascinating prospects for the future, so it feels like even if Le Boss doesn’t fancy continuing past 2008, he will leave the Club in the rudest of health. I still believe this will be a bedding-in season with an element of World Cup hangover, but 2007-08 could just see something a bit special, and building towards that should keep us all entertained.