Pompey's ex-Arsenal contingent grows again

As predicted following the signing of Mikael Silvestre, Armand Traore has left Arsenal this afternoon and signed for Premiership rivals Portsmouth.

Last season's Carling Cup semi-final second leg against T*ttenh*m underlined the fact that, for all his promise, Traore has a way to go before he can press Gael Clichy for the left back position at Arsenal.

And the young Frenchman found himself pushed further forward in some matches, where he could show off his attacking skills.

But this afternoon he has joined Pompey for the entire season - and given Harry Redknapp's use of loan players, he's certain to get plenty of playing time.

Traore was excellent in the Carling Cup final against Ch*vski th season before last, and playing regular top flight Premiership football is going to make him far more useful to us next year than after anothr season watching everyone else getting playing time.

Apparently, he's been brought in to help ease the burden on regular left back Hermann Hreidarsson and given the pretty decent quality of football Redknapp promotes, it seems like  win-win for Arsenal.

Pompey are taking over from West Ham as a favoured veue for Arsenal players.

They could almost field an Arsenal back four, with Sol Campbell an Lauren now joined by Traore; then there's Kanu, former reserves Richard Hughes and Jerome Thomas; and of course, Lassana Diarra.