What uproar did you expect when he was dropped for a match or sold? Limpar played for Arsenal between 1990 to 1994 when the internet was nothing like as used as it is now. Marches in the street, demonstrations? It wasn’t going to happen. Not because he was underrated (except by Graham) but because the opportunity to express displeasure wasn’t anything like it is now.

I actually agree that Graham lost patience with him too early, but that was the manager’s bad decision. Sadly it happens and has with many, if not countless, players over time. In my view Limpar was highly appreciated by fans and for that reason I just don’t see him as underrated. Had social media been as extensively used in the early 1990s as it is now, I’m sure Graham would have received a lot more criticism for his treatment of Limpar. But as I say, the world was different then.

I don’t think we’re disagreeing about Limpar’s quality, although I’m not sure I’d put him in the top five wide players from what I assume is your era when Pires, Rocastle, Overmars, Sanchez and now Saka all spring to mind. But top five of all time, when the likes of Brady, Armstrong and Ball can be counted as well? Wilshere would have had plenty of games out wide too. Let alone the countless players I’ve not seen (including Bastin)? I think that’s over the top even though I would put Limpar ahead of Wiltord, Nasri and Ljungberg.

So in my view, Limpar’s place in the top five wide players of all time is highly debatable, rather than him ‘easily’ being in it as you say. That isn’t me underrating him. It really isn’t, as I don’t. I think he was excellent. I just think I’m being realistic.

Managed to keep reading till halfway through the 2nd para and thought “nah don’t bother”

So AW may be returning to a managerial position with Swiss club Blick that couldn't agree to terms with him in 1995. Instead he chose Arsenal.

The Brazilian connection via Edu.

Hi Rich,

We were strongly linked with Guimaraes before he joined Lyon, if I recall it was suggested that he was choosing between us and them. Whether we actually bid and it got as far as a straight choice I don't know but he was definitely on our radar so I assume we have been following him ever since.

I said the other day I was encouraged by the age and profile of player we are targeting and I am, that said time and tide wait for no man and we must start getting some "first teamer" deals over the line because the start of the season is upon us and realistically we need more quality if we are to genuinely move up some levels.

I like the White signing, I think he may turn out to be a revelation. Lokonga looks very promising and Tavares is very raw but a good athlete and could surprise. It's by no means enough though.

I keep seeing us linked with some quality players, as well as some puzzling rumours such as Ramsdale, but is there any real substance to these links or is it more a case of us making a few tentative enquiries and it being blown up into something its not.

The problem we are having, as far as it seems at the moment, is offloading our players. Clubs like them but don't want to pay anything near what we are asking because of their wages and the financial effects of Covid. In short, nobody wants to pay big wages or a big transfer fee, and who can blame them. How do you solve that one.

Well it was only three hundred words (301 to be exact) and there have been countless longer posts here by many people. Perhaps you were reading it in the middle of the night?

Conversation closed. It’s an old post now

Everything I’m reading is suggesting that it’s the Swiss national team.

Good point, LTG. Does anyone know where Exiled has disappeared to? A forum legend (regardless of your definition of legend: more Dennis Bergkamp than Omer Riza, anyway), and his collection of scanned Arsenal books was incredible.

Interesting. Changing subjects then, at what point do you count a post as old so the conversation closed? Less than half a day?

Bye Bernard

It was a simple question. Is it less than half a day when you consider a post too old to make the conversation open?

Bernard, you mightn't have heard. Since Rog optimised the PHP tables on Wednesday, everything posted on the forum expires after 24 hours. It is then considered an 'old post' and forum members are forbidden from engaging with its contents.

I was last in contact with him in early June. He’s a regular on Twitter but gave up or retired from the forum. Wouldn’t shock me if he returns one day, but that’s just my own hunch rather than anything he said to me.

Reports suggesting Madrid would want 43m for Ødegaard minimum but the player only wants to join on loan again. Honestly if that’s the case we shouldn’t go near him and invest our time in players committed to a future with us.

I don't think he did enough to justify that kind of outlay, TG. Another loan without an option to buy is stupid.

Paying much more would be a gamble I agree, he played well but I agree with what Perry Groves said when he mentioned he thought he has an Özil like tendency to be invisible in some matches whilst looking good in others. You can put it down to age and experience but unloading 50 million plus a hundred grand a week seems a big gamble.

True, although you could accuse most players of the same thing - for instance, how many stellar performances did Bergkamp manage at Old Trafford or Anfield?

Sorry you seem to be comparing Dennis Bergkamp to Martin Ødegaard. To quote Mr Spock I find that highly illogical.

To indulge the silly comparison however I’ll suggest Bergkamp was the master of consistency and in some games it simply won’t work out. The same observation some have made about Henry that he didn’t score enough in cup finals however to compare certain players performances in our hardest matches to Ødegaard not turning up in half his games isn’t the same thing.

Calm down. I was just reflecting upon the fact that even our greatest-ever players sometimes didn't do much in the biggest games of the season. Don't worry - in 22 hours, my post will be rendered invisible by Rog's new settings.

If that’s true then absolutely not. Not at all what we need.

Rog is being generous in leaving it 24 hours until it’s rendered invisible. The time against my post 532544 last night is given as 10.28 pm. Top Gun this morning declared the “Conversation closed” because “It’s an old post now” in his post 532550 at 8.45 am. So just 10 hours 17 minutes later.

At least Rog is leaving the post as visible for 13 hours and 43 minutes after it becomes old and not worth debating.

Good point, Bernard. My calculation was, well, little more than a guess - let's be honest. Perhaps either Rog or TG could clarify?

Pictures on social media leaked of Ben white with his arsenal shirt

You are making this up? Right?

A wind up perhaps?

You haven't heard the rumours of Rog and Big Pharma? Whenever he takes a 15-minute break from colluding with the pharmaceutical industry to artificially stimulate drug prices, Warrior is deciding - unilaterally! - how long a forum post should remain extant. It's just like 'Logan's Run', but much less sexy.

Kinda what I thought. Until I saw people picking up the ball and running with it.

No I'm not in with Big Pharma although I used to smoke a fair bit of greenery back in college.

I had a poster on my wall of Bob Marley, and in the poster he was wearing a T-Shirt with a picture of me on it.

I shot JFK too - It was me on the grassy knoll.

I wonder which will happen first. Arsenal signing Ben White or Xhaka signing a contract extension.

Gawd blimey. Top Gun isn’t going to like this. Let’s hope he doesn’t look at the forum for another 10 hours 17 minutes so he won’t bother reading my post or opening the link. If he does, he’ll do his nut. Perhaps Arsenal weren’t willing to sell him for peanuts after all?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.skyspo ... roma-talks

Do we get to choose ?

Ben white confirmed. Wears number 4

.no way Xhaka signs a new contract btw, he hadn’t even returned back from his holiday when he should have. Model professional my arse.

Arsenal now reporting Ben White. That didn’t take long did it.

The Xhaka reports starting up. I suspect that it’s part of our negotiating stance with Roma.

I wouldn’t blame the club for sticking their heels in on this one. Roma have offered 12 million whilst signing other players left right and centre. Regardless of what I think of Xhaka he’s worth more than that as even youth players are going for more and if Xhaka wants to throw a paddy and stay in Portugal in a strop then the club should dock his wages and not be bullied. Good balls arsenal

It is Swiss national team as reported from Swiss outlet Blick. Messed that up by strange wording in an online piece.

And there were no other offers supposedly from any other clubs then, just Roma. Thing is, does Xhaka really want to stay at Arsenal at all even.

Like other Euro players, wasn’t he given an extended holiday because of the Euros? That’s what I saw. The one thing he always strikes me as is a good professional.

Supposed to be back by now. Not like Switzerland got to the final.

Look at the Ben white announcement, outside chance of being involved against chelsea.

Nice to see White finally confirmed officially. I hope the fee doesn't become an anchor for him, he won't come here and have an immediate Van Dijk/Ruben Dias type impact, but he's got all the qualities a modern centre back requires from what I've seen. Hopefully the fans will give him a chance, long term he could be an excellent player.