Arsenal diplomacy should make us all proud

If you believe everything you read in the newspapers, we're doomed.

Liverpool have added the talented Robbie Keane to a forward line that already looked deadly with Fernando Torres; Manchester United are looking to sign Dimitar Berbatov and if they keep Ronaldo, it's going to be one hell of a forward line; Chavski are looking to add Robinho to their squad (don't go Robbie...look at how many attacking talents turn to sh*t when they go there...Shevchenko, Malouda, Kezman); and even T*ttenh*m are being linked with Andrei Arshavin and David Bentley, that legend in his own head who Arsene Wenger thankfully got rid of.

And as for us? We've been linked with a Swiss midfielder who no one has heard of....and that's about it in recent weeks apart from the old stories about Huntelaar, Santa Cruz, Eto'o and Mario Gomez, none of which will be signed if Greedebayor stays.

If I had a pound for everytime I chatted with a fellow Gooner who lamented our lack of transfer activity, I'd be writing this report from the Cote D'Azur or somewhere equally glamourous.

But while some transfers tend to leak out before they've happened, be it through over-enthusiasm on the part of the player (Nasri), naïve club chairmen (Cardiff) or mischievous agents, actually, on balance, I think I prefer it the way it is.

Fergie slams Real Madrid about stating their interest in Ronaldo then claims Berbatov will be on his way (allegedly); T*ttenh*am chairman Daniel Levy complains to the Premier League about Liverpool tapping up Keane and United chasing Berbatov despite doing the same with Juande Ramos while he was still overseeing Sevilla's Champions League campaign last season...and Rafa Benitez makes absolutely no attempt not to unsettle Gareth Barry at Villa.

So isn't it something to make us proud that Wenger and the club refuse to play that game, waiting unti the ink is dry before making any statement on players that we are signing?

Of course, you could look at it the other way and think that if we announce who we're interested in, it will alert wealthier clubs to start a bidding war - and with every penny counting at the moment, we simply cannot afford to do that.

Two years ago, we complained and complained about the lack of signings - then Julio Baptista, Denilson and Willie Gallas arrived. Last season, after signing the unknown Eduardo and Bacary Sagna early on, we had to wait until the end of the summer for Lassana Diarra, a quality signing who may well regret his impatience now.

We all know we need singings. Arsene Wenger knows we need signings, both from a squad depth and experience point of view and also to convince the doubters out there that we're not planning on being also-rans again this season.

So to all of you huffing and puffing about a lack of new faces, I know how frustrating it can be.

But there is a dignity about Arsenal that you don't get elsewhere. Long may it continue.

What the papers say: Van Persie vows to stay fit

We're all about making your life easier here at Arsenal Addict, where our team of Addicted editors spend every spare second scrutinising news coverage to make sure you're kept up to date with what's going on at our beloved club. So if you don't have the time to trawl through the UK's national newspapers for Arsenal stories, be sure to check back here where we'll do the work for you.

The Sun - Quincy has a case to prove

Former Arsenal star Quincy Owusu-Abeyie is joining Birmingham on loan from Spartak Moscow.

The Mirror - Van takes aim

Robin Van Persie has vowed to get through a season without being crocked - and show the Arsenal fans what they have been missing.

The Daily Mail - Forgiven Gallas gets praise from boss Wenger in bid to retain Arsenal armband

Arsene Wenger hs hinted that he will stick with William Gallas as Arsenal captain after admitting that the Frenchman had to bear too much responsibility at times last season.

The Daily Express - £17M Bentley set for Spurs switch

TOTTENHAM are set to splash the cash they received for Robbie Keane on Blackburn winger David Bentley.

The Independent - James Lawton: Fabregas's fealty is a cause for celebration

It's not for anyone to tell Arsène Wenger how to go about his business, but you just have to wonder whether he considered welcoming Cesc Fabregas back to training today with a band of at least 76 trombones.

The Telegraph - Gilberto backs Ryan Giggs' view of 'mercenary' Premier League footballers

The Brazil international, who moved to Panathinaikos this month after six years at Arsenal, agrees that players are over-eager to demand lucrative new contracts and engineer transfers before winning any silverware.

Got an opinion on any of these stories? Then share it with your fellow Addicts using our comments section

Poll: Which Young Gun deserves promotion to Arsenal's first team?

The name on everyone's lips during the opening pre-season games this season is Master Jack Wilshere, a 16-year-old English prodigy who plays a little in the style of Alexander Hleb, but with, dare I say it, a touch of the Dennis Bergkamp about him.

Now I don't go making comparisons to the great DB10 every day and I'm not suggesting for a moment that young Jack is the messiah in waiting - he is English after all, so he'll probably implode as he starts to believe all the hype before he's reached 20. But the youngster is fantastically talented and in my opinion deserves to be promoted to training with the first team and perhaps even a place on the bench this season.

Of course, Wilshere is not alone among the crop of talent on the fringe of the first team. We've yet to see Spanish wonderkid Fran Merida play this season, but with any luck he might get a game later this week.

So with the new season just over a fortnight away, I'd like to hear from you Addicts who has impressed you most out of our teenage players.

I've given you a few names to choose from, in a variety of positions, so I leave the choice entirely up to you - which Young Gun has impressed you the most and therefore deserves to be recognised with a first team call up? Vote now!