Seems Arsenal may be prepared to lower their asking price for Ashley Cole, but for Inter Milan, not Chelsea. Can't blame Wenger and co. really. The tapping up and now all this bartering (if they really wanted him they'd pay over the odds, see: Damien Duff, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien) so close to the start of the season. Plus I'm sure they'd rather not have him playing against them.

Meanwhile, Cole either will or won't be in Arsenal's squad to face Villa on Saturday, depending on which paper you read.