Reyes Hopeful of Real Move

Arsenal winger Jose Antonio Reyes remains confident that his £9m transfer to Real Madrid will be completed in the next few days.

Speaking in the aftermath of the Gunners' 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in their Champions League qualifier last night, Reyes said: "I want things to be sorted out as soon as possible and I will have my mobile turned on all day on Wednesday in case there are any important calls.

"Me and my family are a little tense at the moment and want to make sure things don't collapse, but I'm hopeful that things will work out in the end."

Reyes was left on the bench last night and would be eligible to play for the Primera Liga side in Europe if a transfer went ahead - but Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger denied that that decision meant a transfer was imminent.

"I didn't send a message out," he insisted. "I did not think Reyes had the right concentration to play. The fact that he will be cup-tied or not did not come into my mind. I just picked a team I thought could win the game." Asked if Reyes would play for the club again, he added: "I am confident, yes."

Meanwhile Arsenal captain Thierry Henry believes selling Ashley Cole Chelsea would be a "massive" blow to the Gunners.

"Let me make it clear - I don't know what is happening with Ashley Cole. But the fact remains that if Ashley goes, we would be losing one of the team's best assets for the second year running," he said. "Ashley was tremendous in the World Cup. That is a fact. People can say what they want but he would be very difficult to replace. The loss of Vieira was massive - like it would be if Ashley goes.

"Obviously we want him to stay. He is one of the best left-backs in the world. We would miss him badly."