I find this hard to believe, but Chelsea have issued a statement claiming Arsenal new-boy William Gallas threatened to "score an own goal or get himself sent off, or make deliberate mistakes" if forced to play for The Blues this season.

Gallas is a top-notch defender but I wouldn't back him to beat Petr Cech, would you? Either way we'll add this to the list of newsworthy statements coming from Stamford Bridge.

(A bit off topic, but my favourite bit of the statement comes when Chelsea dismiss Gallas's demands for better compensation. "Chelsea has a wage structure in place," they claim.)

Gallas was quick to respond to the own goal accusations with a firm denial.

"I am surprised and shocked," was Gallas's riposte. "I certainly never said I'd try and score an own-goal if I ever played for Chelsea again. I was very firm in my desire to leave - that's clear - and I've already explained why. But I never went that far. If people want to hide behind these ridiculous accusations to explain why I left to keep onside with their club's supporters, that's what they do. I don't think it'll fool anybody."

One of them is lying, and I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of FA disciplinary commission gets the job of deciding who.