Nothing going on. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.

Apparently the new kit is dropping today, which at the time of writing is in about 16 minutes, but there’s no way I’m filling in 1,000 words on a new away kit. Back in the old days when they’d have a kit for two season’s it was nice; you would get yourself the yellow jersey and know you didn’t need to ask for the away kit for two years. Now you’re spunking £280+ on three kits and even then one of them is only worn about three times a season (or in the pink kit from three season’s ago instance, just the once away at Bournemouth – remember that epic Saliba goal he scored in it? It’s also where the ‘SALIBA!’ song was born).

The one launching today is the black kit that a few have described as ‘Lynx Africa’. I gotta tell you though, I don’t mind it and I have to say, I will probably buy it. I do like a black kit. That black and gold one from a couple of season’s back really deserved to have itself a place in history as a trophy-winning kit, but there you go.

The transfer news is pretty light on the ground too. I read that Bologna are at a stalemate in the Calafiore situation because Basel are refusing to lower the percentage sell on fee that was agreed with Bologna when they signed him. Isn’t that the most Italian football ‘on brand’ thing ever though? You agree a fee with a club, you  agree a sell on, then one year later you’re going back and reneging on the agreement that you are contractually obliged to see through.

I suspect the deal will get done eventually. The last bit of info I can find on Bologna’s finances was from Swiss Ramble a month ago and Kieran does a brilliant job as always to outline where they were at as of the 2022/23 season. They were operating at a £16.3million loss, but last season they qualified from the Champions League and they will have made £35million from the Zirkzee sale. So with the extra Champions League revenue and that sale they are probably in a better position to try to hold out, but if by all accounts the player wants the move, both clubs want the move and this is just a case of Bologna having to chill and do what they agreed they’d do, my expectation is that this should probably end up happening.

This sort of shizzle always seems to happen to us though, eh? Protracted transfers, saga’s, etc – we seem to always get embroiled in this sort of stuff. Even last season the Declan Rice deal had loads of backwards and forwards as West Ham held firm on their valuation, Man City got involved, it felt like it dragged a little bit before it all happened in the end. One thing we know now of Arteta; when he wants his man, he usually gets it. We’ll just have to let things play out in the wash.

Other than that there isn’t really a lot worth talking about. It feels to me as thought here is probably lots of underground bunker-style chats going on and that’s probably why we aren’t hearing anything. Arsenal will be moving swiftly in the shadows right now, I suspect and that is absolutely fine. The last thing any of us Gooners really want is a public bidding war for a player that could all end in tears.

And so I think I’ll cut today’s random compilation of words short. Tonight we’re doing possibly the last of our summer series ‘one in, one out, one bangs’, so if you want to come and listen to myself, Kaya Kaynak and Melyn Marks, check us out at 7.30pm here.

Have yourselves a good one and I’ll catch you all tomorrow.

Laters peeps.