Five Arsenal players have been named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, which tells you most of what you need to know about how last season went. David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel and Declan Rice all got the nod from their fellow professionals, with a fifth Gunner also included. That's basically the spine of a title-winning side, voted for by the people who had to play against it.
Rice himself has been talking about the moment after the Community Shield defeat by Manchester City when he told his team-mates "it's not done", a reminder of where this campaign actually started before it turned into a coronation. Funny how that quote lands differently once you know how the season ended.
The women's team got their own recognition. Alessia Russo, Emily Fox and Mariona Caldentey were all voted into the WSL PFA Team of the Year, and Olivia Smith picked up the Young Player of the Year award for the second year running, having already won it at Liverpool. Smith joined Arsenal from Liverpool for £1m last summer and has clearly settled in fast enough to keep the trophy in her cabinet.
On Alvarez, nothing's really moved since Tuesday. Sky Sports News has him down to two options before the deadline: stay and rebuild bridges at Atletico, or take the move to Arsenal. One outlet is even framing Arsenal as "the only get out" for him, which tells you where the leverage sits. I still think £130m is a lot of leverage to hand over for a forward who doesn't especially want to be sold, and Atletico know it.
There isn't a great deal else worth dwelling on today. A first-team gallery of Konsa training, an under-18s draw at Blackburn, the women's squad preparing to host Charlton. All fine, none of it urgent. Save the attention for whichever way Alvarez actually breaks.
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