Bargains ahoy! Free to sign, free to link!

Yesterday, the Premier League published their Free transfer list, with all the players who have been released from the top clubs in England this summer. Arsenal have let three young professionals go, but other clubs are shedding bigger names, more or less willingly.

And inevitably, Arsenal are linked with a number of them.

Sebastian Larsson has left Birmingham, and his agent has been flogging him around. Arsenal have been mentioned, but probably just to make him look more interesting to others. The Swedish midfielder spent his formative years at Highbury (it's that long ago), but would never be more than a squad player if he joined again. Sunderland looks his likely destination.

West Ham has released Matthew Upson, who was the most expensive teenage defender in English history when Arsenal signed him from Luton. Now he's 32, and while the Independent rank him highly among Arsenal's transfer targets this Silly season, noone else does. Upson's international recognition is more than anyting else a sad statement about English defending. He never commanded a place in the Arsenal lineup at Highbury, and he's not likely to do so now. Still, he has been linked with a return to Arsenal in just about every transfer window there is. Now he'd come for free.

Robert Pires, the Premier League's very own McDreamy, couldn't get a contract with Arsenal last winter, so there's no reason to expect anything else now. Still, sentimentality in Silly season might bring him a mention somewhere.

Speaking of sentimentality, Patrick Vieira has been linked with a move to Arsenal as coach. According to this story in the Independent, his British career as a player is over. He'll either stay at Manchester City in a coaching capacity or move to Qatar or the USA for a final season or two on the field, it is reported. Well, others - like the Evening Standard - have linked the Arsenal legend with a return as coach at the Emirates.

Perennial crock Owen Hargreaves has been released from Manchester United after 11 minutes played in two seasons. Decorating the treatment tables at London Colney instead is a career opportunity, if the Daily Star were to be believed a month ago. I prefer not to.