. Arsene Wenger says he will decide about a new Highbury contract in October. As usual
when Arsene is mulling over a new deal, he has been linked with a major job in Europe. He has turned down an approach from Franz Beckenbauer to become Germany's new coach. That wasn't the first time Beckenbauer has offered Wenger a job. Ten years ago Beckenbauer, the club president, approached Arsene to take charge at Bayern Munich. Wenger was interested but Monaco's president, Jean-Louis Campora, wouldn't let him go. He sacked Wenger a few months later. 

Wenger likes to run the football side of his clubs without interference from above -
intereference inevitable from such as Florentino Perez at Real Madrid or the presidents
of many of the Gunners' Champions League rivals. So our money is on Arsene to stay and lead Arsenal towards the new stadium. The one job that might interest him, though, is
coach of France's national side. That may be up for grabs after the 2006 World Cup finals. Wenger would be the French fans' choice by a landslide.

. Arsene still has the Champions League to conquer. As Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp have said, that's the prize the Gunners want, to seal their place in history. Wenger has never gone beyond the quarter-finals with Arsenal. He guided Monaco to a one-off semi-final in 1994, which they lost 3-0 to Milan at San Siro.

. New signing Rob van Persie has spent his career with Feyenoord as a left-winger or left side attacker. But Wenger's comments suggest he sees 21-year-old Van Persie as a longterm replacement for Dennis Bergkamp. Arsene said: 'He has a great left foot, he's a very good passer and he has excellent vision'. (The Dutch PFA's 2002 Young Player of the Year is also a rarity for an Arsenal attacker. He's supposed to be good in the air!)

. Highbury won't seem the same without Martin Keown who's bowed out aged 38. Keown made more than 450 appearances in two spells with the Gunners, gained three championship and three FA Cup winners, medals and played 43 times for England. As Bergkamp said: 'We couldn't have won anything without the attitude, mental strength and experience of players like Martin'. Incredible now to think that he left Arsenal for Aston Villa in 1986 after a reported disagreement with George Graham over a £50-aweek pay rise. George brought him back to Highbury from Everton in a £2million deal in 1993.

. Keown's departure opens the way for 19-year-old Swiss defender Philippe Senderos to establish himself, ala Kolo Toure last season. The powerful 6 foot 3inch centre back missed much of last season, first with back trouble, then with a broken bone in a foot. He recovered to shine for Switzerland at the European under-21 championships in June.

. The Gunners continue to search far and wide for young talent. Latest arrival is 17-yearold  striker Arturo Lupoli from Parma. Lupoli has played for Italy at under-16 and under-17 level.

. Goalkeeper Graham Stack, one of the stars of Arsenal reserves' run to the League Cup semi-finals, could play in Europe this season - for Millwall. He's joined FA Cup runners-up Millwall on a season's loan as they prepare for their first-ever UEFA Cup appearance.

. Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole both enhanced their reputations at Euro 2004 and were deservedly named in UEFA's squad of the tournament. Ever-steady Campbell carried on from the 2002 World Cup finals when he was picked for FIFA's Team of the Tournament. Meanwhile, Cole gave his best displays yet in an England shirt, especially in the quarter-final against Portugal when he marked Cristiano Ronaldo out of the game.

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