Reports in this morning’s Sun suggest that Arsene will sign his contract extension tomorrow, tieing him into the Club until 2011. It will, I hope, curtail the annoying coverage that tries to present Arsenal as being in crisis; it certainly puts an end to the speculation that Wenger is upset at Dein’s departure. He might well have been but one can only guess as to whether he would welcome DD back given the present company he keeps.

That Wenger engenders personal loyalty is undeniable yet it is not a one way street. He will give players ample opportunity to either prove themselves or take enough rope to hang themselves. The backing he has received in light of the relative inactivity on the transfer market is unsurprising. The players recognise that this is their moment, the chance to prove his faith in them right. I doubt that Jens Lehmann necessarily sees it the same way, rumours are rife that a move to Schalke was blocked on the closing day of the Transfer Window. Yet this enforced absence, real or political, will serve the German great benefit. Almunia’s performances in the three matches has given notice that he is an improved and capable deputy, ready to challenge for the Goalkeepers jersey. The choice of ‘keeper for the Spurs match is going to be interesting. If Almunia is retained, it proves that Wenger is picking on form. A return for Lehmann would be a blow for the Spaniard, leaving question marks about his future especially with Fabianski being potentially ready for next season.

Gilles Sunu became the latest to add to this, explaining that he rejected overtures from Chelsea and Manchester United amongst others. It is an endorsement of the policy of nuturing talent that Wenger has brought to bear in recent seasons. This is not universally popular as evidenced by comments from supporters. It is however one that attracts players to the club and one would hope, enthuses them to remain. Some will pass through the doors en route to pastures new. It is unrealistic to expect a player to sign for the club in their teenage years and to remain here for the rest of their careers; the call of home cannot be ignored indefinitely. Some will surprise us and do that. All we ask is that whilst they are at the club, they perform to the best of the abilities and we see the best of them.

It is too easily forgotten though that the squad is not purely made up of young, inexperienced players. Of the normal starting eleven, half of them are in their mid twenties or older. There are few inexperienced players in the squad anyway. Even though the remainder are in their early twenties or younger, they have several seasons under their belt. This balance is important for the present and the future. As players move on, the younger ones now assume the mantle that is left by experienced players which can negate the need to spend big fees in a transfer window. It does not have to be the case though but it allows Wenger and his successor flexibility to choose whom they want and not have to rush into things.

It is important to remember that this is a cyclical routine; as Wenger himself has noted on the official site, finding new talent is proving harder. He has made Arsenal a destination of choice through giving youth a chance but not over-exposing it to the rigours of the Premiership unless circumstances render it unavoidable. Even then, there is a school of thought that a couple of hard games will teach them as much as a season of gentle introductions. That lesson is evidenced by the willingness to mix it in the games so far, including the pre-season fixtures. The real tests are yet to come. We have had the physical battle with Blackburn and know that the team can stand up for themselves. The next challenge is to win the games at the teams in the lower end of the League and to get results at our peers, where the pressure is different. The first test of that comes next week where the physical edge of the derby needs to be mixed with a pragmatism to get a win. That match incidentally starts a run, I think, of fixtures where all of our games in all competitions are in London for the next month, until the CL match in Bucharest.

’til Tomorrow.