Arsenal Release Five Players But Koscielny Deal Still Not Confirmed.

First of all, apologies for today's blog being so late, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I simply didn't have the time to get around to it any earlier. I've had a very busy day and as I'm back to work after a month off tomorrow, I'll have to start preparing and researching my blog the night before as I usually do.

It's amazing how lazy you become when you have the bones of a month off work.

The last of the games in the final sixteen of the World Cup took place yesterday and they saw the progression of Paraguay and Spain into the quarter finals.

I watched a fair deal of the Paraguay game against Japan and I will be shocked if they aren't blown away by Spain. I don't think they are good enough to be in the quarter finals of the World Cup. It would seem that they have given everything they have to get this far and one more game might be one game too much for them.

In the evening game, Portugal tried to play defensively as I had predicted, but once Spain scored, that plan should have gone out the window. I don't know if they even tried to attack Spain after that because their efforts were so poor and the ex "Manure" diver did absolutely nothing in the game. It only added to the theory that he turns it on against the smaller sides, but when his club or country come up against the top teams, he goes missing.

From an Arsenal perspective the most interesting thing was that Cesc didn't get to play. Yet again. It looks like he is only a minor player for Spain in this World Cup. While they haven't been overly impressive, I still think they can improve a lot and the semifinal between them (when they beat Paraguay), and either the Netherlands or Brazil will be a fascinating game.

It's definitely the harder side of the draw but if you want to win the competition you have to beat them all. Hopefully one of the Arsenal player(Cesc or RVP) will be able to halt Brazil.

Laurent Koscielny still isn't an Arsenal player, but it appears that it's just a matter of time before he is, and not much time at that. We are today linked with Braga and Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo with "Manure" also supposedly interested. From what I have seen, he is a keeper that I think we should definitely be looking to sign, and I hope the reports are true.

There are a few very interesting articles on the Young Guns blog about Arsenal youngsters and potential signings.  We have apparently completed the signing of Samuel Galdino from Real America in Bolivia after a few complications and he will be loaned out to Celta in Spain.

They also report that five reserve and youth players have been released and the first of them is Luke Ayling, who will join Yeovil Town. The other four players are James Dunn, Kerrea Gilbert, Sam Byles, and Rhema Obed and hopefully they can all find themselves another club very soon.

We are also interested in 23 year old Benfica and Algerian centre back Rafik Halliche according to Young Guns. We will attempt to gain a work permit for 20 year old Brazilian Pedro Botelho, who has been on loan in Spain for the last three seasons. You can read more about all of thoose stories and more besides on the blog and it's well worth reading.

That's it from me today as I'm back to work tomorrow, and I need my beauty sleep.

Here's a compilation of Theo Walcott from last season.

See You Tomorrow.