William Gallas maintains he has no intention of leaving Arsenal this summer. The veteran defender, who turns 32 in August, has endured something of a difficult spell since arriving from Chelsea two years ago.

Last season, Manager Arsene Wenger replaced Gallas as Arsenal captain, handing the title to Cesc Fabregas following public criticism of the young squad and reports of a bust-up between Gallas and defensive partner Kolo Toure.

However, somewhat ironically, the Frenchman then went on to produce a string of consistent displays as the Gunners found some form over the latter part of the campaign. Gallas did however miss the closing weeks of the season due to injury.

The arrival of young Belgian Thomas Vermaelen had spurred rumours of a summer transfer to Inter Milan for Gallas; a move that would see him reunited with old Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. Wenger has continued to give the French footballer his full support, denying suggestions that he had played his last game at the Emirates; Gallas also insists that he is fully focused on the new campaign ahead with the Gunners.

"I am at Arsenal, my contract is still valid for a year, so I am an Arsenal player," Gallas said, before adding: "We have not talked about renewing the contract, but I am relaxed and looking forward to next season with Arsenal."

Wenger remains keen to further strengthen his squad before the new campaign, which will see Arsenal face a qualification play-off to reach the lucrative group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

Brazilian holding midfielder Felipe Melo was strongly linked with a switch from Fiorentina, only to sign a new contract with the club. Udinese's Gokhan Inler is another midfielder on Wenger's radar.

While Arsenal look set to retain the services of sought-after skipper Fabregas, set for extra recovery time following the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, and Robin van Persie, last season's top scorer, the future of Emmanuel Adebayor is yet to be resolved one way or another - with AC Milan continuing their interest.

Manchester City, meanwhile, remain keen on Toure, who handed in a transfer request at the start of the year before then settling back into the side.

Arsene Wenger's confessed "gamble" signing, Amaury Bischoff, has departed Arsenal after just one season because the Frenchman could not guarantee the midfielder first-team football.

The 22-year-old made no starts during his short tenure with the Gunners, and the decision not to renew the player's contract was confirmed on Tuesday - the expiration date of his old deal.

"[Wenger] could not guarantee me playing time next season. So we decided together that it was best that I did not extend [the contract]," Bischoff explained to L'Equipe.

Bischoff is now actively seeking a new club to stride out for next season.

Arsenal also released a clutch of reserve and youth players, but there are signals that Wenger may add to his solitary signing of the summer thus far; Thomas Vermaelen, with Ligue 1 likely to be raided.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Mamadou Sakho, Olympique de Marseille captain Lorik Cana and Girondins de Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh have all been linked with a switch to north London.

Despite losing the captain's armband during the early stages of last season, William Gallas has been swift to quell the recent gossip that suggested the former Chelsea defender was keen to reunite with former boss Jose Mourinho at Serie A club Inter.

"I am at Arsenal, my contract is still valid for a year, so I am an Arsenal player," Gallas is reported to have told The Daily Mail. "We have not talked about renewing the contract, but I am relaxed and looking forward to next season with Arsenal."
There could be numerous ins-and-outs in the Gunners' rearguard. Belgian international Thomas Vermaelen, formerly of Ajax, has already been welcomed to north London, while Ivorian international Kolo Toure is still believed to be on the radar of money-laden Manchester City.

Should Wenger decide to cash in on either of his elder defensive statesmen - Gallas or Toure - then a move for Werder Bremen centre-back Naldo could be on the cards.

"Naldo is a great athlete and could do well at the right club, unfortunately he doesn't fit the direction we're planning to move in any longer," Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf explained to a club insider.

"We expect to move him for somewhere in the region of €10 million, and English side Arsenal is as of now the most likely destination."

Arsenal have rewarded Wales international Aaron Ramsey with a new long-term contract due to his "good contribution" in his rookie season as a Gunner. According to Arsene Wenger, the player's continued development will be looked forward to by the club's management.
"We're delighted that Aaron has signed a new long term contract," Wenger confirmed to the club's official website.

"He made a very good contribution in his first season and he showed that he is a very intelligent player with great quality.

"He is still only 18 and we're really looking forward to seeing him develop with us in the forthcoming years."

Ramsey opted to sign for Arsenal in a £5 million deal last summer, despite concrete interest from then-European champions Manchester United. He went on to make 22 appearances in all competitions last season, and found the net in a Champions League match.

Upon Ramsey's arrival in north London, goalkeeping coach Bob Wilson spoke of his excitement at a midfield partnership of Fabregas and Ramsey, which confused certain people, who saw the Welshman's ideal position on the wings or further up field, as a deeper role would seemingly stifle his attacking flair.

He has shown himself to be capable of playing anywhere across the midfield line and, like reserve team-mate and fellow talent Jack Wilshere, he is strong on the ball. Similar to club captain Cesc Fabregas, Ramsey seems content to play for the assist rather than the glory of finding the goal.

Hertha Berlin have emerged as the latest candidate to sign unwanted Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos.

Senderos has returned to the Emirates after Milan decided not to purchase him following his loan spell. However, the Gunners do not want him either, and, according to Swiss daily Blick, Hertha are ready to step in.

The Swiss international played under the Bundesliga side's current coach, Lucien Favre, at Servette when he was just 16, and the pair could be keen to renew their relationship.

Hertha have just sold Josep Simunic to Hoffenheim for around €7 million, which is approximately the fee Arsenal are expecting for their surplus centre-half.

Senderos is actively seeking a move away from Ashburton Grove, having realised - with the arrival of Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax - that he does not feature in the club's plans.