Afternoon all.
The worst kept secret is finally out. Ben White is an Arsenal player for the new few years and he’ll wear the number 4. Long gone are the days when Sky Sports or the BBC would spring a surprise on us like they did when Sol Campbell made the move across north London or when Tomas Rosicky left the Czech camp to sign for Arsenal. Remember the story about Dennis Bergkamp pulling into the same petrol station as Ian Wright on the day he signed for Arsenal? Wrighty admitted later he was like an excited school boy when he found out our greatest ever number 10 had been snapped up by David Dein. Oh those days eh….
Ben White has been joining Arsenal for what seems like years. I’ll admit, apart from when Arsenal played Brighton, I’ve not seen a lot of of him so I’ve had to do a bit of research about what he’ll bring to the Arsenal team.
His height is probably the only negative to his game but there’s nothing he can do about that other than to jump high if he comes up against van Dijk. Lol
According to the stats above which someone at Sky Sports has kindly worked out, White outperformed all Arsenal’s defenders in all departments bar Rob Holding. Oh, and David Luiz who loved a long ball to the front men.
Noticeably, and a big far hoorah, he likes to play the ball forwards rather than opt for sideways or backwards pass which will help the team instigate an attacking move more quickly. If his arrival, along with Sambi Lokonga puts an end to all the tippy tappy sideways passing then that alone will make Mikel Arteta’s team more viewable.
So, apart from bringing the ball out of defence and feeding the midfield a bit quicker than not only the current Arsenal defence but the entire Premier Leagues defenders, (I hate stats!) what else can we expect from our third summer signing?
Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth:
“I thought I’d be sitting here telling you about Granit Xhaka moving from Arsenal to Roma as they had talked earlier in the window and Roma had made bids.
“But none of those bids were satisfactory for Arsenal. But he’s now back in training I’m told he remains a key part of Mikel Arteta’s plans for this season and potentially beyond.
“While this appears a huge U-turn on the outside it should be remembered that Arteta has been a big backer of Xhaka. It’s thought that he never wanted the player to leave in the window.
“He started 29 Premier League games last season under Arteta – only Bukayo Saka started more. His current deal runs out in the summer of 2023 so Arsenal will want some certainty with regard to Xhaka in this transfer window.
“A contract extension hasn’t been ruled out.”
Play the ball forwards – what’s that, Rico? 🤣
Exciting times.. can’t wait to see him, hopefully against the Chavs on Sunday.
As for Xhaka, I’m not surprised about the so-called new deal, after all Arteta wanted Mustafi to stay!
In all fairness, Mustafi looked better under Mikel than he ever had 🙂
Did Mustafi play that much under Arteta? I thought he soon dumped him like he had a few others.
Not a lot, but he was a different player.
It was his mouth that got him in trouble.
😀 No idea Sue, I came across it when reading about Ben White. 😆
Very true re Mustafi..
I hate stats too, when comparing apples to oranges. Re dribbles completed by central defenders, the top four on that list were all outside “center” backs in a three man defenses. In fact Webster was Whites teammate on the other side of the back three at Brighton. These players have more leeway to dribble forward than someone in the center of a four man defense and it was clearly something Potter encouraged at Brighton. I don’t expect White to match that number in the middle of a back four at Arsenal.
Nmw, our defensive stats probably read well from last season, certainly post Christmas so you never know, he might make a big difference
Morning all.
Tick another box for Arteta and co.
More to come, but who, that’s the big question.
What about Stan Kroenke Scott? Credit where it’s due eh…
After a decade of nothing, yes, he’s stepped up.
One swallow and all…..
Surprising news about Ben White, we’ve actually signed him, I thought it was all rumour and speculation. 😉
Sodding BBC !!!! I had to go out this morning so I set the sky box to record the GB/Australia game. Came home and sat down to enjoy it all was well until extra time then the numpties in Broadcasting House changed.. channels. Stupid #!***¢ t**ts.
On top of that I’ve just received an email from the BBC telling me that my TV licence runs out tomorrow. Very helpful, I renewed the f*****g thing yesterday.
Sue, did you see that Miedema missed her pen and Holland knocked out?
Cheer for the Aussies now mate 😉
Bruno next and who knows, a cheeky bid for Martinez of Inter – money talks…
Odegaard on deadline day for €25m
I do think Arsenal are going to do more yet Kev..
Afternoon Andrew, totally agree. I loved what he said about knowing he was moving a while ago but didn’t expect it to take so long. Welcome to our world Ben. Lol
Afternoon rico, all. We can now move on, hate these long drawn out waits. Seems a nice level-headed lad in the first interview. How refreshing to sign a young English player and an international at that.
PS – ESL to press on with Barcelona, Real and Juve. Just flashed up on my phone, really?
Yes Rico, it’s almost as if David Dein was back and in charge of transfers.
Perhaps Edu rubbed shoulders with him back in the day Kev.. lol
Thanks Stan. 😄
Seriously.
😂 Adam, but he does take a lot of flack when the signings don’t arrive. Of course Edu etc have done their homework but if we apply the same principle for not signing players, then well done him.
I agree Rico. He seems to have grasped the situation and has come up with some money though I am sure he’d like to get some transfer money coming in.
Understandable though Adam. We have too many players who probably won’t be playing much if at all, and they’re earning a big salary.
The good thing is we’ve bought early.
Usually we’ve had to sell first and that’s made things tough.
It’s how things should be and yes, credit to Stan and co. It’s taken A decade but no point looking backwards. Things look good imo
Have we had to sell first or did the manager/board at the time just prefer it that way? I’m sure we’ll see exits yet it’s just Edu/Arteta are doing things in a better and more timely fashion.
Scott, that’s just why I think Arteta had fortune on his side. A full stadium might have put pressure on the board had they voiced their concern over how the team was playing.
We all want Mikel to succeed I’m sure, but I think there’s a way to go before he can be considered the right one.
Stability is of course paramount to success and I’m really hoping that’s what Edu and Arteta can bring to the club.
As for Stan Kroenke, I think it’s a shame you can’t recognise what he’s ‘allowing’ the club to do so far this summer with the same gusto you have berated him in the past. At least Kroenke seems to be a leopard who was willing to change his spots.
I read that too Geoff, apparently he’s being sued for £700m. If he loses, a takeover might yet be on the cards.
Morning all.
Rico. It depends how things pan out in the sense of the order of what happens next.
I can envisage several scenarios.
Well, they’ve a month to do whatever they hope to Adam. Ordinarily a long time but when Arsenal are involved, it’s like a day.
Absolutely Sue. Thankfully one of the other players missed too. I was sure she’d score too.
Was gutted for her, Rico. 10 goals in 4 games and a record broken too! Never thought she’d miss, but these things happen. She’s had an incredible tournament.. hats off to her!
I predict there will be no shortage of speculation Rico. Even if there is a shortage of transfers.
Absolutely Adam and I’ll believe every one. Lol
Well I’d you get out shopping every bloody day we will see more, for sure 🙂
KSE are getting ready for the ESL
Don’t think they’ll make that mistake again…
I’m a cynic Rico 😉
Indeed you are Kev. 😂
Evening Rick, they’re on mine already, just hope they’re on Edu and Arteta’s, money allowing of course.
I’m confused about the Bellerin and Xhaka new contract offers if true.
I try to be as big an optimist as Adam but I just can’t do it…
If we can’t sell them with their contracts running out is it better to extend and hope to get some money when the market picks up.
Maybe the club are learning to play hardball at last.
I think you’re spot on there mate.
The biggest compliment I can give Stan and co. is they’ve backed the right man, Mikel, and have stuck to their guns in (a)
not sacking him when the fans started calling for it and (b) for doubling down this transfer window.
Stability in a club is huge.
Spending money to support your opinion of the manager you enjoyed us equally as important, imo.
Players coming in are young, we have great balance (age wise) in the squad so things are looking fantastic.
I see Kroenke is in hot water over moving his L A rams
Now, or previously Geoff?
I know he took stick when it happened-has it blown up again?
Scott apparently he is being sued by the council and some other business for moving the club and going by the reports I read a couple of days back if he looses it could cost him overtime One billion US dollars.
It seems that Kroenke is starting to listen and support the club and that’s all we fans ask for. Who knows maybe this failed super league and EK offer could be a blessing in disguise.
Let’s hope so.
I don’t care who owns us as long as they do what they can to keep us competitive.
Morning Rico. I agree. Stan probably doesn’t do much without looking at the bottom line and let’s face it, he could sell up now and walk away with a hefty profit. But, let’s just suppose for a moment that he and Josh believe that Arteta and Edu are worth backing and that they have taken on board whatever they’ve been told about where we are and what needs to be done to put the club back up there. The Kroenkes have a poor reputation when it comes to investment, despite the figures not necessarily supporting that view. The schtick is that they don’t care. Perhaps this is true, but I doubt it myself. I don’t see the fact that they are US based as being a problem but some do. Many were hoping that Daniel Ek would buy the club but I never heard or read anything about how much he would invest in the playing side, just that he was endorsed by some Arsenal legends and wasn’t Stan Kroenke.
With the limitless pockets underpinning Man City and Putin-backed Chelsea plus Liverpool and the debt-laden Glazers as rivals, it’s never been harder to achieve top 4 finishes and I anticipate some dark days this coming season too. having seen Pep wearing his ‘honest guv’ expression on TV yesterday while stating that Man City will not be buying big strikers this season as they are broke just like all the clubs and then, 2 minutes later, hearing that they’re negotiating for Grealish and Kane it’s pretty clear that there’s a lot of money, earned outside football, that will be bought to bear on the market.
I’ve had serious reservations about Mikel after last season but surely we have to get off his back and stop blaming Stan for everything.
At least for now. Anyway😀
Hi mate.
Yes, Stan (Josh) have already shown more intent this transfer window than they have in any previous years, and while it doesn’t eliminate the frustration, the oats is the past and let’s hope it’s a new era.
Morning Adam, sorry, I had to dash out.
Interesting you say that about City, I read a headline the other which said there was proof City had been feeding money directly from the owners to the club. Perhaps that’s why they can afford to Grealish and Kane. Maybe someone will grow a pair and dig deeper into the story.
I still have reservations about Mikel but I sure as he I want him to succeed.
Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano
·
17h
Arsenal are offering Granit Xhaka a new deal until June 2025 with an increased salary – more than what AS Roma are proposing in their contract bid. White circleRed circle #AFC
AS Roma last bid was €12m + €3m add ons, turned down. Arsenal are now confident to extend Xhaka contract soon.
Good morning Rico and all.
Whilst I don’t agree with Xhaka staying as I believe that he Personifies the failure we had in the past few seasons, I will accept that he stays as cover for Sambi Lokonga, Partey and Guimaraes (if he comes). The problem is that if he stays he will feature on a regular basis. And that means more occasional mistakes which will cost us.
Yes his value will increase if he signs, but imo it is a mistake.
I think we should string Roma along, anything to put a spanner in Mourinho’s works. 😉
Personally I’m not too fussed whether Xhaka goes or Xhaka stays, Xhaka staying would mean that when Elneny and Partey leave for the ACN that we have adequate cover in Granit and Albert in centre mid.
Basically, if the figures are true, and Fabrizio Romano is usually spot on, we’d be losing Xhaka for about £10m and that after he was one of the stars of the Euros and following arguably his best season at Arsenal. Added to that we’d be doing Mourinho a big favour as Xhaka is supposedly his No.1 target.
We can wait until the deadline and if Roma/Mourinho come back do an Ibrahim Ba on him and pull the plug at the 11th hour. There is still a window to sell him in January after the ACN…
Morning Devil, I can’t see Xhaka’s valuation increasing. If no one wants him after his good performances in the Euros, then we’ll struggle to move him on next summer too I think.
If Xhaka stays it’s surely because no club was able to find the money for him. Arsenal can’t give him away but I see no ideologies in play here. Just supply and demand.
If he signs the contract extension, offer him on loan to Lazio, Roma’s local rival.
Great idea Cicero.
Nasty, Cicero.
I love it!!!
Afternoon Rico and the House.
Its very heavy rain and strong wind down south
not a day for cricket
Last evening goals by Richards Sago JNR and Roberts saw the U18s
beat Hendon 3-1
Its H/T at Ebbsfeet and Goals by Swanson and Edwards see the U23s in the lead by 2-1
Warm, dry and partly sunny here in Norfolk, Rick, with hardly a breath of wind. No rain since early this morning.
A couple of bottles of London Pride await as kick-off approaches in the Lions V South Africa second test.
Afternoon Rick, mixed day here. Not like summer at all.
I saw some of the hundred earlier, I’m enjoying it..
Now 4-1
3rd Cotterall
4th a sceamer from outside the box by Azeez
Finished 4-1
Our keeper saved Pen on 90mins
The rugby kicked off a 5pm. Half time came at 6.05 it took an hour and five minutes to play a forty minute first half. There’s something wrong with rugby union.
Azeez is coming along very nicely, a game or three in the League Cup for that young man methinks?
I hope so. Has he signed a new contract do you know yet Kev?
Azeez could save us a lot of money
Rico, I’ve heard that his contract has two more years to run so I’m not sure what the situation is with him?
Good Morning Rico and everyone
Xhaka still has two more years in his contract. So Arsenal hold all the aces and if Joe Say wants him he has to tell Roma to stump up the cash.
But I still want him gone.
Roma have released their balance sheet for the first nine months of the season, showing a net debt of €278.5m.
The figure is almost €60m up from Roma’s financial statement ending June 30 of last year.
Want is one thing but being able to is another.
Morning Rico, Potter and all. If those Roma figures are correct then their accountants must be delighted that they hired Mourinho. All he guarantees these days is lots of confrontation and aggravation, little or no success on the pitch and a massive compensation package when he eventually leaves under a financially burdened cloud.
That was the report from 2020
. If we do any deal with Roma it will be done on a drip by drip basis .
Say the final figure is £16 million with a 5 year contract it would be spread across the time period so that by the time it ends and there has been a possible financial recovery in a few years time it will be virtually worthless.
Reading further on Roma are up for sale and were subject to a takeover which failed due to the level of debts.
Potter. That makes a deal with them even more undesirable😀
How can a club like that see Mourinho as a smart move?
Every country seems to have their Tottenham 🙂
Thanks Kev fe Azeez.
I think so too Potter. If he’s staying rather than go on loan, I’m not sure how many opportunities he’s going to get if we sign another attack minded midfielder. Perhaps Arsenal could get Odegaard on loan for another year. Or simply just throw Azeez in at the deep end.
Morning Devil, Adam and all.
Morning Rico and all
Got me beat how so many of the football / soccer clubs around the world owe so much money yet the official’s running the game don’t step in and say enough if enough, pay back all the money you owe before you can buy any more players.
It’s not fair on the clubs playing by the FFP rules.
New post up now.
Where is everyone?
I’m on the new post.