Arsene Wenger will today sign a new contract at Arsenal which would eventually extend his stay to 15 years. The deal will be worth £4 million per season, with the buoyant mood apparently unaffected by confirmation from Cesc Fabregas that he spoke with Real Madrid officials in the summer.
Indeed, joint top and unbeaten in the Premier League, these are upbeat times for Arsenal, all the more so with confirmation that the Frenchman will be staying until 2011, and so is his best player.
Wenger had suggested that he would ask Arsenal to sue Real should any proof be unearthed that Fabregas had been the subject of an illegal approach. "I did not allow Fabregas to talk to anybody," said the Frenchman at the time. "He denies that he spoke to Real Madrid. So if you can get the statement that he's done that and that Real Madrid, more than ever, has done that we will sue Real Madrid."
The player's comments to Radio Marca would appear to offer that proof. However, while Arsenal's management may seek clarification from Fabregas, they are content that the player is happy having signed an eight-year extension and are unlikely to pursue the matter with Real or Fifa.
The 57-year-old Wenger, meanwhile, recruited in 1996, has won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups for the Gunners, and he also took them to Uefa Cup and European Cup finals.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have denied that Michael Ballack has been left out of their Champions League squad because he has no future with them, even though Wayne Bridge, who has a similar injury and is not expected to be fit for at least eight weeks, has been included.
The German, who arrived from Bayern Munich in 2006, has not played for Chelsea since April because of an ankle injury. "Chelsea Football Club would like to reiterate that Michael Ballack's omission from the Uefa Champions League group phase squad was taken only because of injury," the club claimed. "There is no other reason for the decision and suggestions to the contrary are unfair on Michael, who is attempting to get fit as soon as possible, and our medical team."
Bayern Munich's president Franz Beckenbauer has criticised Ballack's choice of club. "I think it was a mistake," he said. "There was a space available for his position with Manchester United and he would have fitted into their system perfectly. The same with Real Madrid. But at Chelsea his role was filled by Frank Lampard."
Andriy Shevchenko can't understand why he's not first choice up front for Chelsea. Manager Jose Mourinho has insisted the Ukrainian striker is not match-fit following a niggling back injury. But the player believes there is no reasonable explanation for his continued non-involvement at Stamford Bridge.
He said: "I don't know why Mourinho isn't playing me. I don't understand but I'll remain calm and wait for my chance."
West Ham are optimistic Kieron Dyer will not be sidelined with a broken leg for as long as initially feared. Dyer suffered a double fracture of his lower right leg while playing against Bristol Rovers.
The England midfielder, who was making only his second appearance for West Ham following his move from Newcastle, was expected to be out of action for a considerable amount of time.
However, West Ham's head of physiotherapy George Cooper is hopeful Dyer - who was released from hospital on Monday having undergone surgery - will make a speedy recovery.
"Kieron had a pin and screws put in the leg and already we know there is an excellent fixation in the leg. That means the prognosis is very positive for a quicker recovery. He is resting up now, but will be off the crutches in around two weeks' time, when we aim to have him up and walking."
Derby striker Craig Fagan has been banned for four matches after he was found guilty of stamping on Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa.
