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.

Let me save you some time.

There will be people againest him on here regardless because of his fee, nationality and the manager who signed him.

Well, if Xhaka stays there will be people against him no matter how he performs, but hopefully it will be a small minority in both cases.

No it’s about 80 percent of the fan base

Don't think it's strange if we decide to keep Xhaka considering the rumoured bids from Roma. If he wants to leave it's best to explore that option, but he's under contract and we're under no obligation to sell him for peanuts. I have no doubt he understands that and will act professionally regardless of what happens. I still hope we sign another central midfielder to compete for a place, Willock would bring in more money than Xhaka anyway.

Read this pure self interest. I hope the clubs in England including ours have nothing to do with these scumbags

https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articl ... d-30-07-21

Who here will be against him because of his nationality? I’ve not noticed any posters who are anti-Arsenal’s English players.

What do you mean revolting English people ?

Bernard, I'm hoping you'll see this post within 10-12 hours; otherwise, it'll be rendered meaningless. Fingers crossed.

Ben Stokes, who declared himself a Spurs fan in August 2019 apparently, has withdrawn from all cricket due to mental health issues. Are these two facts by any chance related?

Are there any English people you don’t consider revolting? The question remains. Who here has ever criticised an Arsenal player because he’s English? Just wondering because I can’t think of anyone.

Hint, it wasn’t me who called them revolting on here in the first place.

I won’t name names and cause more rows. Conversation closed. Bye Bernard

I do consider some English people revolting. Don’t you consider some English people revolting?

The question remains as we can’t have reached 10 hours 17 minutes on this issue yet. You suggested White would receive criticism because of his nationality. Who here has ever slagged a player off because he’s English? I genuinely can’t think of anyone.

Or perhaps he found your impeccable logic and careful marshalling of evidence too overwhelming. I'm sure many opposing generals, when faced with the blitzkreig, would also utter the words “nah don’t bother” before reaching for the white flag.

People like using rhetorical devices like 'top 5 of all time' or 'world class' when they don't literally mean it. Unwise!

A small and mostly revolting minority?

What happens if you accidentally read or reply to a post that is past its sell by date? Botulism?

How dare you compare Henry and Bergkamp!?! ! Tssk!

A failed attempt at humour ! Congratulations

Pro Tip : Nothing

10-12 hours? I think its half-life is considerably shorter than that, Mcquilkie.

It strikes me that whatever sense it may have had when it was newly minted has already dissipated.

No Im serious you can tell cos I dont punctuate

I still struggle with why White was a priority signing for Arteta, but I wish him well at the club. I wonder who will be the leader White or Gabriel. Usually one person is dominant.

I thought attacking midfielder would have been our first priority but still time to bring someone onboard.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/p ... 8041a5e2b4

“Ben was a top target for us and it’s great that we’ve completed his signing,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told the club’s website.

Kudos to Arsenal & it's owners to spend big this summer. I never thought we would spend so much for one player.
Welcome Ben White!

Looking forward to Arteta's new team for the season. Time for him to bring us back to the ECL!

I'm not confirming till ltg says so.
joking :)

But I am thrilled. It's our 3rd touted defender in a couple years, albeit the other two were young and not proven at the highest levels before signing them. 1 out of 2 with them. Can't think of the last 'proven' top level defender we signed? Does Pers? Sylvestre? Count as such? I'll let the forum nitpick that.

It remains to be seen if we have overspent but I suspect we haven't. I'm happy with the back 5 more or less and having Partey in front, well, we shouldn't leak goals as much. Fingers crossed.

https://metro.co.uk/2021/07/30/what-mikel-arteta-told-ben-white-about-future-arsenal-transfers-during-talks-15017193/?ito=newsnow-feed

When even Soc is optimistic about the season this could be a pivotal season. Like me, he is a bit more skeptical than the average gooner. I'm excited about seeing the new players and the return of the better performing ones last season. This season is also a pivotal year for Arteta. Yeah, he'll need some time to put all the working parts together into smooth running machine but he can't take all season to do it.

Hoping we'll see Xhaka out the door. Nothing against him but we should be doing better.

You have my permission now.

The illuminating thing about Xhaka is that it appears to be Roma or nothing. No other club is looking in, even after a good Euros, and saying he looks a bargain and making a better offer (or indeed any offer).

Actual video of ltg announcing Ben White's signing.