There has been a lot of talk in recent years about successful and yet past-their-prime players moving to the United States to earn the big bucks and to continue their career in the American limelight. This began with David Beckham moving to LA Galaxy, with much of the commotion surrounding his wife, Posh Spice's desire to hang out with Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise.

We have qualified top of the group. Well done, lads.

Is this a reason to play a B team tonight? You bet it is.

Olympiakos would like to win this fixture and thus have the chance to progress, Marseilles would like us to win and allow them to go into the knockout rounds.

We have qualified top of the group. Well done, lads.

Is this a reason to play a B team tonight? You bet it is.

Olympiakos would like to win this fixture and thus have the chance to progress, Marseilles would like us to win and allow them to go into the knockout rounds.

Arsenal are visiting Greece for the final group game with top spot secured. Such games can easily become an unwanted, tiresome chore but they can also be an opportunity for the some of the players to show what they are capable of with a chance to perform in a pressure-free environment.

Of course, we don't want the team to be frivolous and roll over but I feel the squad that Wenger has taken to Olympiacos is full of professionals who respect the badge on their shirt and the game/competition.

Some of this is recounting from Twitterisms some, you just couldn't make up:

Seattle Sounders: B+

Fucito, not cruising anywhere...

Good day to you Sounders fans. Two years ago Sebu Le Toux couldn't quite get on the field for Sigi Schmid's first team. Off he went to the Philly Union in their expansion draft and nearly captured an improbably MLS MVP award (of far from it, but you get the picture.

David Luiz's gallivanting run from centre-back ends on Oxford Street Ep.14 Birthday Bonanza! by Off The Post on Mixcloud After spending the international break sunning ourselves on faraway islands owned by Tom Cruise and trundling around the world's best golf courses, the Off The Post Podcast is refreshed and ready to launch itself two footed [.

Grahame Jones has retired from the LA Times and sent a final email to the staff.
I didn't have the privilege to work with Jones at the paper (the late, great Jim Murray did), but Grahame nevertheless always made me feel like a co-worker and fellow soccer writer the moment I stepped into the pressbox in 2004.

Grahame Jones has retired from the LA Times and sent a final email to the staff.
I didn't have the privilege to work with Jones at the paper (the late, great Jim Murray did), but Grahame nevertheless always made me feel like a co-worker and fellow soccer writer the moment I stepped into the pressbox in 2004.

So Arsenal have been snubbed by Phil Jagielka apparently because of our 'fading appeal'.
I'm sorry, but I haven't seen anything as funny as this since I saw those newly weds dancing to 'I like big butts' on Youtube.
Seriously, I'm not being arrogant here, do you honestly see Phil Jagielka turning down a move to Arsenal if the chance arose?

Who's in and who's out at YOUR club? Every Prem League deal of the summer so far

Having trouble keeping on top of the frantic summer transfer activity? Here's our handy guide to who YOUR side has signed so far. And don't forget to tune in to MirrorFootball's daily transfer gossip video show Football Spy, presented by our very own Darren Lewis for all the latest news and views every single day, ArsenalIn: Carl Jenkinson (Charlton), signed £1m; Gervinho (Lille), signed £10.

Last week I exclusively told you that Arsenal had had a bid accepted by Blackburn Rovers for Chris Samba, in the region of £9m. Samba has recently been out the country on holiday and both parties have waited for him to return to tie up the deal mainly the wage agreement. I don't expect us to have too many problems paying him the wages he wants and the deal should conclude fairly quickly.

Arsenal have released two of their players that were thought to be rich talents and expected to become stars of the future. Tom Cruise has often been called the Top Gun after his illustrious namesake, and Mark Randall is another that was expected to break into the Arsenal first team but always seemed to fall [.

Arsenal have released two of their players that were thought to be rich talents and expected to become stars of the future. Tom Cruise has often been called the Top Gun after his illustrious namesake, and Mark Randall is another that was expected to break into the Arsenal first team but always seemed to fall [.

Did anyone else watch the programme on Sky Sports News about Thierry Henry just now? He still holds a massive torch for Arsenal. Its bigger than the one the Statue of Liberty holds which is ironic given that Thierry plays in New York these days. The man loves Arsenal so much and its great to see such a legend speak so fondly of the club.

"You mean it will be difficult?"
"Very."
"Well this is not Mission Difficult, Mr Hunt, it's Mission Impossible. Difficult should be a walk in the park for you."

However, the chances seem increasingly slim that we will all have smug Tom Cruise-esque grins etched across our faces come May.

Ipswich 1 Arsenal 0
Seeing as I don't call things right very often, allow me a moment of self-congratulation: when the teams were announced before the match, I asked why Djourou, Arshavin and Fabregas (among others) were being asked to play in a match of this calibre, and that younger players would probably be more (and I hate this particular cliché) 'up for it'.