Peter Odemwingie to Arsenal! £4m! A snip! Bargain! A new contract in the offing hence the reported interest from a big club. Nothing like that to focus current employers duringnegotiations. Which is exactly where Arsenal find themselves with Samir Nasri, who used similar phraseology to Odemwingie when discussing potential suitors. It too appears ill-conceived if a true translation,

Do I want to go to Man United? First, we should see if it’s real and if it is concrete.

Contract negotiations involve considerable amounts of brinkmanship but the time has come for Arsenal to stand firm. Players are well-rewarded, let them go elsewhere if it is not good enough. Few who have left the club during Wenger’s time have found the grass greener on the other side. There is a danger in this scenario for Nasri.

There is simmering discontent with his lack of consistency, Cesc at least had that to fall back on in terms of goodwill last year. It is very similar to Emmanuel Adebayor in that respect, he found how quickly elements of the support can turn. When money and ego became an issue, the goals were no longer enough to excuse his tiresome behaviour.

A swift resolution would be Nasri’s best option. To begin with, it may dissipate the annoyance at his comments before that turns to anger. Secondly, it stops a full blown Summer of Arsenal in Crisis headlines.

On the subject of Cesc, please pay attention. Barcelona are going to do Arsenal a favour and offer €30m plus Thiago Alcántara. Which is where it gets a little complicated. El Mundo Deportivo reckon Barca may go to €35m, about €20m short of Arsenal’s valuation. The Mirroragree that the deal will be worth €55m. So in order for the €35m to become €55m – and assuming Barcelona pay €35m for Cesc - Thiago has to be worth €20m not the €8m reported. Some discrepancy!

But AS reckons the same as everyone else; the Catalans haven’t got a pot to p*ss in so cannot afford Cesc along with their other signings this Summer.

Nigel Winterburn believes that Cesc may leave this year although his benchmark of £30m is set too much in the Barcelona court if you ask me. Fábregas’ departure would be construed negatively but need not be so. With the money to reinvest in the squad, Wenger would be in a better position to cope with loss of confidence or injuries that have blighted recent seasons.

Alternatives in the form of Nasri (if he stays) and Wilshere exist. Questions exist about Nasri’s readiness for the pivotal midfield role whilst youth counts against Wilshere. He exceeded expectations this season but may be rotated more next to prevent burnout.

Most likely, a new arrival to fill that role in the team, coupled with a tweak in tactics. Arsenal adopted this formation principally to accommodate Cesc as leader on the pitch, to bring out the best in him. Ready-made replacements are in short supply, their current employers less than willing sellers.

Elsewhere Gervinho‘s preposterous habit of talking about himself in the third person will be coming to Arsenal if they cough up €17m. Scotty Parker still wants to bring his 1930s hair and playing styles to The Emirates! If I thought he would revive the Arsenal success of that era, I would beseech Arsene to sign him. But he won’t and it seems that Arsène agrees.

Sevilla reportedly want Nicklas Bendtner which is a step down from Bayern Munich. Bendtner should feel at home though, Sevilla have as much chance of winning the domestic title as Arsenal next season, if the naysayers are to be believed. It says much about the miserable depths to which some have plummeted that 2011/12 is already written off. I always thought that rather like Star Wars, a new season was a new hope. Obviously not.

Suggestions of Jesus Navas in part exchange for Denilson and Bendtner will never happen. If you thought Reyes was homesick, Navas is in another league. His was illness was so bad that he couldn’t play for the national team because of it. No to him but yes please to £20m for the Arsenal duo.

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