No news does not mean no reporting

There are various reports about Gervinho signing one of these days. Of course, he has been reported to be signing 'soon' for several weeks. Still he's widely quoted from the French media saying himself that he's chosen Arsenal, and he has been spotted for his medical in London by trustworthy Gooners. Knowing Arsenal, the confirmation will be held up for a day or two, but when/if it finally arrives he'll get capital letters here.

But what I can't fathom is that papers, having reported for weeks that it's a matter of days, can't shut it and wait for him to smile beside Arsène Wenger.

The story on Cesc Fábregas still boils down to Barcelona not affording him, or of variations thereof. This isn't new, but it's still rephrased and reported as news because there are no news. I've mentioned it earlier. At least twice recently.

What some papers describe as Barcelona's 'hardball tactics', waiting for the end of the window to make their move, smacks more of desperation on their part. As does the widely reported rumour that they demand more compensation for Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral included in any Fábregas deal. It's just that they don't have the cash Arsenal want for Cesc.

Samir Nasri was back in training today. Ironically, the paper in which the Frenchman spoke last, the News of the World, was shut down today. His quotes in that most trustworthy of organs have been the foundation for every twist and turn of reporting his possible transfer since.

Well, now he's back at Arsenal and booked on Sunday's plane to Kuala Lumpur.

There will obviously be negotiations with Arsenal, with only a year left on his contract that's a no-brainer. Interest from other clubs strengthen his position. Even the BBC has reported that Manchester United have made an enquiry, and I'm inclined to believe that. But I don't believe Nasri's leaving without speaking to the manager first, trying to get what he wants from Arsenal.

Still, I've lost count on how many time Chelsea's or Manchester City's interest and even completed deals for Nasri have been reported. Were the Daily Mail to be believed (another no-brainer), he would already be posing with their AC Milan away colours at soon-to-be-named Etihad Stadium.

Instead, Nasri may well facilitate a pay rise for one or two of his teammates as well, if he can get the club to expand their wage structure.

A confirmed signing

As predicted, the signing of Carl Jenkinson has been confirmed on arsenal.com. At 19, he'll be counted as part of the senior squad. Acquisition of younger players are not mentioned on the club website on principle. (Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin are said to have signed for the U18 side already.)

As Arsenal make their first official signing of the summer, at approx. £1m, two of the main rivals in the top of the Premier League have spent more. Liverpool have confirmed that they have agreed a fee for Sunderland's Jordan Henderson, and Manchester United are reportedly signing Phil Jones. Remember Jones? Yesterday, Liverpool or Arsenal were his possible destinations.

Those fees, supposedly £20m for Henderson and £16m for Jones, dwarf Arsenal's outlay for today. And predictable moaning ensues - "why do all the others get the English talents"? Well, Arsenal have a few England youth internationals already, and Jenkinson would've been one had he not opted for Finland.

Let me remind you, even though Arsène Wenger and today Liam Brady promise a busy summer in the transfer market, nothing indicates that policies have changed at Arsenal. The transfer budget includes salaries for all the signings throughout their contracts, not just transfer fees.

So we can expect more signings like Jenkinson, Toral and Bellerin. If there are established stars coming in like Gervinho or Gary Cahill (both linked with Arsenal three times each in the Mail and the Mirror only today!), there aren't likely to be many of them this summer either.

Teenagers have reportedly signed

Barcelona teenagers Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin have reportedly signed for Arsenal. While Toral's transfer has been widely reported a few months ago, the deal for Bellerin is said to have been made during Barcelona's stay at London Colney this week.

Sky Sports broke the news here.

Report by the Young Guns blog here.

Even though Arsenal never officially confirms transfers of U18 players, I have today set Hector Bellerin's name in capitals on the summer 2011 rumour page. Jon Toral is not included, as his transfer was agreed before this window.

End of Proper Season

I haven't prepared a season review, but would just like to remind you all that football is a game of two halves. The same can be said of Arsenal's 2010/11 season.

While not overly impressing anyone, the Arsenal side picked up points and stayed in cups all the way until the Carling Cup Final. So much was made of the chance to win the first silvery pot in six years that the disappointment never really left them afterwards. Even a competition routinely neglected by Arsenal was suddenly a priority - and a lost opportunity.

Arsenal only won two games after the loss to Birmingham. The second half of the season, indeed, at least these last two or three months felt like half a season.

So now what? There is clamour for the manager to "change" and go for the big names and huge signings. But have you heard anything from the man himself about changing tack? Thought not.

“It is a situation for the fans which I can completely understand. But we are in a job where other clubs do not respect the basic rules of any other company and we have to live with that.

“You cannot think that if there is not enough money to run the company then someone else [will] come in and give his money. That is not how we want to run the company."

Arsène Wenger's comments here are not to be misunderstood. He has a business degree, for X' sake. Unlike his colleagues with only playing and coaching backgrounds, he knows how to keep a big club out of financial dire straits.

Do not expect him to "change", expect him to deliver one or two new signings who are proper reinforcements, and a further emphasis on developing youth players. Players like Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin may arrive from Barcelona's youth setup like Cesc and Mérida before them. JET and Lansbury may be found worthy of first team squad elevation.

Then there's one or two... all summer long we'll speculate. Who will definitely reinforce the Arsenal?