Ed’s Note. Received this email from a regular correspondent yesterday, and although it’s very brief, the message is so important that I think it deserves reading by a wider audience

My thoughts on a recent Online Gooner article demanding more denials of transfer rumours by Arsenal.

I totally disagree. Warren Buffett, the world’s most successful investor, never comments. He says that to issue a denial then makes a future bout of silence tantamount to affirmation.

Also, why let rumour-mongers set the agenda, I wonder - very tail-wagging-dog?

Yes, it’s frustrating that we announced the Flamster’s departure days after it was known widely and that needs looking at, but that’s different to mere speculation, of which there’s so much these days.

And we don’t want to become like ManU in any way, including this. The great bit about the Ramsey situation was that ManU (and Everton) made themselves look very silly (as well as presumptuous and arrogant) by announcing the deal as signed without bothering to ask Aaron whether he might have an opinion. Classic stuff.