Arsenal Transfer News: Report Rubbishes Yann M'Vila's Alleged Move to Emirates

Recent rumours indicating Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila has all but agreed a switch to Arsenal are false, according to the London Evening Standard. The newspaper claims that the rumours have been generated by M'Vila's agent as a means of forcing Serie A giants Inter Milan into decisive action.

This is a sensational report, given the hype and excitement created by stories regarding a done deal involving M'Vila. The France international has been identified by many as one of those names who represent a magical and immediate solution to all of Arsenal's woes.

In fact, manager Arsene Wenger is being rather patronisingly commended for finally "waking up" to the need to spend big money on established targets. These gestures of approval seem to ignore Wenger's recent assertion that the signing of Lukas Podolski will be followed by a period of reflection and assessment regarding the current squad.

It seems odd that Wenger is praised for spending a reported fee in excess of £17 million on a 21-year-old, who is relatively unproven at the top level. Usually, Wenger could expect to be criticised for favouring young, French players.

That's not to say that M'Vila is not a talent worth watching. However, a similar player could be found at a cheaper cost, which is an important consideration for an Arsenal team in need of help in several key areas.

After already paying more than £10 million for Podolski, securing M'Vila for the fee mentioned represents the kind of splurge that goes against the financial restraint Wenger has championed. The M'Vila saga will likely become clearer one way or another at Wenger's pre-match press conference.

If the deal does turn out to be moot, it won't represent disaster for Arsenal. Disaster will only follow if the club isn't concentrating everything on winning their last game.