Arsenal To Play a Friendly Next Saturday and Jack Wilshere to Bolton

Good afternoon from a very wet but warm Dublin. This weekend in Ireland, we have our biggest music festival of the year and 80,000 people are currently getting absolutely drenched at Oxegen in Punchestown.

We had our hottest June in 40 years last month and we have seen no rain in about six weeks, but as soon as Oxegen comes around it always rains all weekend. I was there last year to witness The Specials live and it is something I will never forget.

As you may gather from the opening paragraph I'm struggling to find anything interesting to write about Arsenal today. As the football world waits for the World Cup to finally finish tomorrow, there isn't a lot happening in terms of transfers at Arsenal or any other club, for that matter.

Bolton have again stated their interest in taking Jack Wilshere on loan for the entire season and while I think it's a good idea I also think that there should be a clause in any loan deal stating that the player can return to Arsenal at a moment's notice if we decide that we need him. I know he will get a lot of much-needed experience on loan, but the experience gained in our team is far superior to any gained at Bolton.

Our newest signing, Laurent Koscielny, has said that he will need time to adapt to the English game and to build himself up for the more physical approach of certain teams. I'm hoping that like Vermaelen last season, he will take the league by storm and fit right in from day one. Although with another defensive signing still wanted by the boss, he may not get that opportunity depending on who we sign.

A new format has been announced for the reserve league and it means Arsenal will play 20 games next season but that most of the home ones will be behind closed doors as spectators are not allowed at the club's training ground where the games will be played from October through to February. In the other months, the games should be played in their traditional venue of Underhill, where Barnet play their football.

Speaking of Barnet, we will be playing our first preseason against them next Saturday at 3 pm at their ground. It's the traditional first friendly for Arsenal and it usually has a few first team players and a number of fringe players in the Arsenal team. It will be good to see them back in action and in the new jerseys too.

The media continue to speculate that Sandra Rossell will meet with our boss at the World Cup, but as I said yesterday there is no reason for Arsene Wenger to meet him as there is nothing to talk about. Barcelona have been told that Cesc is not for sale and that's the end of it as far as Arsenal are concerned.

Let them come back with as many improved offers as they like but as someone commented on Bleacher Report yesterday we probably have caller ID and won't even take the call.

Tomorrow's World Cup final could see RVP come up against Cesc, but realistically we all know Cesc will be on the bench and unless things change and Spain are losing he will be lucky to see any action at all. On the other hand, RVP is a certain starter for the Netherlands as he has played every game so far. He may not have looked at his best and his single goal return isn't great but I can't see them changing their team for the final.

I've been up for the Dutch since before the tournament started and I'm not going to switch sides now, but I have to admit the Spanish are a lot easier on the eye and don't have the nasty streak that a couple of the Dutch players have.

However, they do have six Barcelona players in their projected starting 11 and with their constant outbursts on Cesc, I cannot support them. I thought I had nothing to write about but I managed to find something in the end but that's the lot for today.

Here's  a few goals from Charlie George.

See You Tomorrow.