I am very puzzled why our club is being linked with Ben White…At this stage, we have the following Centre Backs:
- Holding, Gabriel
- Mavropanos, Mari
- Saliba, pbbly will be loaned out again
Knowing that we can also use Chambers and Tierney as central defenders, I am not quite sure why we would pursue Ben White. Sure, he is a good defender but if we are to buy a defender, why not aim for a very top defender? Someone that could transform our team like Dias did at City…
If Ben White joins then it would surely be the end of Mavro and/or Saliba at AFC and then if we pay 50 Mln for him, does that mean that Holding or Gabriel drop to the bench?
A real weird rumour that one…
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
The only reason I can think is Arteta wants to go to a back three again (which really cost us last season)
Moron.
NB – yeah maybe…but then we could play:
Chambers, Holding, Gabriel or
Holding, Gabriel, Mari or even
Mavro, Holding, Mari (or Gabriel)
We have the CB staff at disposal, no?
The reason is he believes one of two things or both.
1. Either, in the end the future two centre backs will be White plus Saliba ( or if everyone is wrong about the Frenchman), or White plus one of the left footers – Mari /Gabriel in that order for me. OR
2. Mikel intends to play White in the central holding position to release Partey. White is a ball playing defender.
Mavrapanos, Medley are gone, Saliba, I hope, is our new VVD ( RC, yes I know you think Varane!!) but the question is does he have more Guendouzi in him?
On another discussion point, Happy 49th Birthday to ZZ, a player who, in my opinion, warrants significant consideration for the greatest player of all time! Debate 2 for the day.
Good point. If it’s true I can’t see Saliba sticking around.
The centre of defence is not where we need to be recruiting IMO
LBG – ZZ is definitely amongst the greatest and am a massive fan…He would have been a legend if he won the 2006 World Cup too…The loss against Italy in the final haunt me today like Federer’s loss vs Djoko in 2019 at Wimbledon – two big blows…But ZZ with the ball at his feet was magical – watch the Euro 2000 to see how great he was and then his 2006 WC match against Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Hey RC / Rocky here’s a piece about Saka. Feel free to use as a post…
The Saka Secret is Out
Bakayo Saka started for England last night and if the Press are to be believed he will be a solid fixture in Gareth Southgate’s England team for the rest of the tournament.
It is becoming apparent to the rest of the football world that Arsenal have a major talent here. This past season he was head and shoulders Our best player. At age 19 that is quite a statement. I don’t think We’ve had a standout talent from the Arsenal academy at such a young age since Tony Adams (Cesc Fabregas & Nicholas Anelka were lifted from other academies in my opinion). If he measures up to Big Tone he will be some player.
Unai Emery clearly saw something in Bukayo and gave him his first senior appearance. For all the things Unai got wrong at Arsenal he clearly got that one right.
What makes Saka stand out in England is his talent with both his left and right feet. He can use both equally well, which can be a nightmare to defend against. He may not be the fastest player, but he has a turn of pace and can dribble well. His crossing is also decent. Maybe where he is lacking at the moment is his finishing, but he has time to improve on that.
Despite his ability to play in many positions I see him as destined to play off a striker as an inside right or inside left (George Best?). He has too much talent to be stuck on the wing and his attacking ability would be wasted in midfield or defence.
Now the problem: Showcasing his talents on the International stage at Euro2020 (21 surely?) will attract interest from other teams. He is tied down to a 3 year contract, but as seen with Harry Kane this is no guarantee that a player will stay put. In the coming years we will need to match his ambition to keep him at the Club.
The best comparison in the England set up is Phil Foden (nice shiny gnashers). He is 2 years older than Saka and worth about £80 million according to Transfermarkt. He’s a good player, but very left footed, so what would that make Saka worth? If Man City with their Abu Dhabi vanity project money offer £150 million could we hold out? I hope so.
This lad is potentially world class. He needs to be the beating heart of the Arsenal team over the coming years with support from Smith Rowe, Tierney and Partey. Keep these players together and we might be back in the big time…
Pete
Well, before it is removed, bravo Sir. Exactly the analysis of this young talent that I would have made. Not only do I think we would hold ou but I think Saka will commit himself to the Club, at least until he is mid twenties and is either worth a hatful or not.
When you add ESR, Tierney and I still believe Saliba to the equation… the future’s bright.
Troopz is a disgrace and needs to be removed from association with our Club.
AFTV likewise.
Hello there
If Ben White is better than the CBs we have then I’m happy we are in for him. The fact that he can play at RB and DM is a bonus.
I really like Holding and think he is underrated, while Gabs is young and has plenty to suggest he will develop into a decent CB.
I’d also hope that Saliba gets a loan to a PL Club (Newcastle?) Next season, rather than send him to France again.
If he has a good campaign over here then Arteta and the club can either bring him into the team (finally!) Or failing that, flog him for at least what we paid for to a PL club. French teams just dont have the cash (apart from PSG), just look at Marseille offering pennies for Gwen Doozy!
If it number 2 then why not just get bissouma LBG
What did troopz do LBG
Hi Arsey, 😛
Your list of designated CBs is accurate;
Holding, Gabriel
Mavropanos, Mari, Saliba,
However, the grim reaper, (aka the Arsenal coaches) will scythe a couple of them down,
Mavro, and Maribecause they want to leave (Mav), or is not in the full flush of youth (Mari), and Saliba looks a bit wobbly about Arsenal, and will be loaned out to a PL team to see if he cam make it in England in the future.So the Arsenal CBs will be; White, Gabby and Hold the ‘phone,
Why??
1) Selling the first two named (and average) above, will bring in some money, (not a lot, but …)
2) There is a plethora of exciting youngsters currently out on loan (Daniel Ballard, Harry Clarke and others), all clawing their way into Arsenal’s future), who will improve their experience to match their quality, in the near future, while Saliba will probably be sold (more dosh) as he seems to be a cry baby.
[To be candid, I like Holding, but in the near future, as the kids come through, he will be ejected into the football cosmos.] Just ask L Bah G. 😜
Arsenal do not need to spend too much on White, but he could be an Arsenal star of the future.
RC
Disagree they will get rid of Mari, older but calmer and better than Gabriel. Mavrapanos ( is gone, unfortunately).
White will start as cover at right back, particularly as/if Saliba gets his chance, and then perhaps graduate to holding midfield.
Fred
Troopz is apparently a stalwart of AFTV. Was thrown out of Wembley for “damaging” seats allegedly after the Scotland game, and from the Czech game for some illegal streaming….filming himself as he was led away. A publicity seeking ****head, IMO.
Ok
Always some drama with them from AFTV
My first year at the Emirates I could have been on tha show lol
Bunch of disgraceful self-publicists.
So Juventus think we might swop Balogun for Ramsey. Give us a break!
I’m really concerned about what is happening with Saliba – an example of Arsenal’s atrocious transfer activity/business over the past 8 or so years.
I mentioned in another post – asking why Arsenal continue to see players for relative peanuts.
As bad as Xhaka is thought of in some quarters, €18m is a joke. Guendozi will go for less than hes worth. Nkietia will go cheaply. Bellerin was being touted as a €50m player 18 months ago. €7m for Mavrappanos? I could go back and talk about Gnabry, Dalen and Bennacer to name a few. It’s not good.
Now back to Saliba. I think the clubs behaviour and treatment of the player leaves a lot to be desired – and will no doubt make other young targets think twice about coming to Arsenal given the way Saliba’s career has been handled.
Who is Troopz, LBG?
RC
I know you are watching the best game of International football for many years, but please keep up!! See response to Fred earlier.
Perhaps we could get Semedo as right back and Sanchez in midfield.
Is White ‘English’ in FA conditions, in which ase it would make sense considering the issue of the number of ‘foreign’ players ?
Happy Birthday to the second best pace bowler for England in the last 30 years – Stuart Broad 35years. And another definite/ maybe best footballer of all time – Lionel Messi 34years.
hate AFTV
I remember Troopz saying that even if Arsene managed Arsenal to win the treble (League, FA and CL), he still should get sacked. WTF!!!
Looking forward to Spain losing their next game:-)
AFTV is very marmite. Some individuals seem to make it their goal in life to attack them, which is weird. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.
It’s not my cuppa, but they seem to have a good business going. I suspect a lot of the anti-AFTV lot are jealous of their success.
I know some people that have featured on AFTV clips over the years that now denigrate it. They have very short memories…
Most of the characters on there are fine. I remember Ty from years back travelling to Arsenal away games (late 80s/early 90s), he always stood out. And I chatted to Claude a few times in the pub after games. A very personable, nice guy (RIP)
BYW a great pair of games last night in the Euros.
Demark, Wales, Sweden and Ukraine were really lucky this time. Two of these teams will be in the final 8 of the Euros…meanwhile, some of these teams may be packing since they re facing each others:
– England or Germany
– Portugal or Belgium
– Croatia or Spain
My only explanation is that Arteta besides being a mediocre coach, trying to compensate it with being terrible at transfers.
He might try to follow Guardiola’s footsteps, who loves to splash the cash as if there were no tomorrow, but Mikel fails to understand the different budget and conditions of Arsenal.
Both the loan + buy contract of Mavropanos and the astronomical purchase of Ben White (far above Upamecano and Ikone) smells of major incompetence.