Arsene Wenger had to submit a list to the board showing last season’s squad and who would replace who next season from his 28 man first team squad.

There was apparently a really lengthy explanation after the list regarding the whys and wherefores, although this has not been forwarded to onlinegooner for confidentiality reasons. The long and the short of it was that Arsenal are waiting on deals for Ljungberg, Reyes, Flamini and Song to go through before entering the bidding for Shaun Wright-Phiilps, Ryan Babel and Obafemi Martens. They are also trying to land a work permit for Carlos Vela, but that looks unlikely to go through until January. Two other young strikers also on his wish list are Valeri Bojinov and Yoan Gouffran (Ed’s note - presumably this info is from the text after the squad list) , but both are likely to be loaned out if signed. There was a massive bit about losing Eboue, Toure and Adebayor to the African Nations next year.

How reliable this info is we don’t know, but it does show that in order to replace those leaving not a lot is required. Interestingly it appears the Wenger is happy with existing centre halves.

(Ed’s note – I think we would have to conclude that those asterisked are the current first choice eleven, and it’s interesting to see the new signing Sagna listed in midfield)

*Jens Lehmann
Manuel Almunia
Mart Poom (2007/08 replacement Lukasz Fabianski)

*Kolo Touré
*Gaël Clichy
*Emmanuel Eboué
Justin Hoyte
*William Gallas
Johan Djourou
Philipe Senderos
Armand Traore
Matthew Connolly (Harvard Nordveit or Joe O'Cearuill)

*Cesc Fabregas
*Gilberto Silva
*Alexander Hleb
*Tomas Rosicky
Fredrik Ljungberg (Bakary Sagna)
Mathieu Flamini (Shaun Wright-Phillips or Ryan Babel or Henri Lansbury)
Denilson
Abou Diaby
Alexandre Song (Fran Merida)
Mark Randall

*Emmanuel Adebayor
*Robin van Persie
Thierry Henry (Eduardo da Silva)
Julio Baptista (Niklaus Bendtner)
Theo Walcott
Jérémie Aliadière (Obafemi Martens or Carlos Vela or Jay Simpson)

(Ed’s note – Although this information is reproduced in good faith, onlinegooner must state that it has no way of substantiating any of the above information. So readers, take it at the only value we can confidently place on it – i.e. gossip, but quality gossip, and always, always remember the maxim – football is bullsh*t central)