Last season I ventured the following apparent contradiction: the England team could soon have more Arsenal players than the Arsenal team has England players. And so it has come to pass already. Congratulations to Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere (again, not Wilshire) for making Fabio's full squad (along with Theo) as Team England embarks, hopefully, on a new era, and one we Gooners can take more interest in than the universal total indifference of late. And here's another thought: Young Jack the Lad may not now need to be farmed out to Bolton Wanderers this term to gain first team experience. He can do his loan spell at the National Stadium just down the road. See you at Wembley on Wednesday.

My Members' Pack arrived at the weekend and I was determined not to spend too long idly thumbing the pages and reminiscing on the season just ended. The player profiles are of particular interest, though. Henri Lansbury receives a quote from Arsene, who sees him as an important future player. At the Shareholders' AGM two seasons ago, when Arsene was still talking to us (see below*), he began by saying the team's future was "English", then smiled as he repeated: "Yes, English!" Henri would make it four and Emmanuel Frimpong could be number 5, though he's indicated a preference for his country of birth, Ghana. Nobody would blame him for that but it's interesting that he's suddenly joined the first team set-up and that Arsene has advised the FA to attempt to secure his services "very, very quickly".

Reading our Esteemed Ed's dissection of Members' Day, I'm glad I did not bother this year. Twelve months ago I attended, including the tedious and somewhat embarrassing Q&A featuring Theo, Djourou and Gibbs before they spent various lengths of time impersonating Darren Anderton. The confidence the trio expressed, that this was the season we finally won something, was to prove totally misplaced, of course. Actions speak louder than words and, until this squad has significant silverware - and I don't mean the E******s Cup or the League Cup (or whatever it's to be called this time) - then I think these events should be stopped.

I'm no pederast but I've suddenly taken an unhealthy interest in Young Boys. May the Swiss runners-up make it to the Champions League proper.

Barn Door is again shooting his mouth off, encouraging the attentions of an Old Lady, based in Turin. Apparently many players regret leaving Arsenal but he should not; he'd have even less chance of making our starting XI than Citeh's. And if he's going to warm a bench, or a seat in the stands, better to do it with as full a pocket as possible. What a great bit of business his sale was.

I was shocked - not too strong a word - to learn of our 6-5 victory in Poland. Arsene described the game as "enjoyable". Can you imagine Jose Mourinho using this adjective after shipping five?

When it comes to Cesc, I feel like one of the mere animals - i.e. not one of the Pig ruling class - in George Orwell's Animal Farm. Whether the current speaker / writer is pro or anti, I find myself agreeing. I do hope our Captain's mind is not similarly confused but the words emanating from within are not helping. On Friday, under "Cesc Fabregas Statement", Cesc states: "... I fully understand that it is Arsenal's prerogative not to sell me." This shouts at me: much as I love Arsenal and Arsene, I want away. Yet under "Wenger - Cesc's decision a 'huge lift' for us", the opening sentence implies that it was Cesc's decision to stay: "The decision of Cesc Fabregas to stay at Arsenal is a 'huge lift for everyone', according to Arsene Wenger."

These two "stories" were posted Friday when Arsenal were already in Warsaw. How apt; their inconsistencies and contradictions smack of Soviet-style mind games and control.

Finally, and completely non-footie related, I do love a bad pun. During the final hours of Raoul Moat's short life, I thought of this gem, which may or may not have made it into the tabloids ... Moat: the surrounder becomes the surrounded.

*Stop Press: How bizarre. Just as I was about to press the "Send" button to Esteemed Ed, I get an email inviting me to a Q&A with our Great Leader on 16th September. I take it all back.