Arjen Robben admitted he had been reluctant at first to consider a move to Chelsea before he agreed to a £13,5-million transfer from PSV Einghoven to Stamford Bridge. The deal will go through at the end of the season and complete a remarkable rise for the Holland left-winger.

As if Arsenal did not have enough to enjoy from their perch at the top of the Premiership, they were given three further reasons to celebrate this week. No sooner had the club confirmed that the funding is in place to enable their new stadium to be built than Arsène Wenger announced he will extend his contract.

When Arsène Wenger reflected that a mark of a great player lies in an ability to produce something special when least expected, it summed up José Antonio Reyes’s afternoon on February 15 to perfection. Hard as he was trying, the recent arrival from Sevilla looked lost as an intense cup tie swirled around him.

When the Football Association urged clubs to field their strongest teams in the FA Cup this week, there was one tie the governing body would not have been worrying about. Arsenal and Chelsea have been drawn to meet at Highbury for a quarterfinal place and it can be taken as read that neither will be putting out a reserve side.

Gianfranco Zola does not look or sound like a man who is ready to retire. Only two weeks ago against Everton he added a brilliant lob to his greatest goals collection, which will surely stretch to several hours when the video is compiled.