Very odd signing. If we were after him for a while why wait this long that his fee has doubled? We have morons running this club I’m telling you.

What happened to the myth of if we are out of CL/Europe we will have no money? We clearly do have money unless we are splashing our entire summer budget on this White guy. Either that Kroneke has finally woken up and smelt the coffee. I don’t see any protests now btw.

Tbh I rather spend £50M on Mings if he was available, blokes a warrior and closest thing I’ve seen to Sol.

Mings is an atrocious defender.

I dont get why people are complaining that we spent 50m on a pretty good CB. He's proven in the Prem, he's young, he can move the ball, he's pretty quick. Who the hell cares what we spent on him. It's not our money. Now, if it hampers other signings, ok, i guess i could see that argument, but there's every chance we will be making more signings this summer, so I'll just sit back and see what we come up with before the season starts

Mings is decent. Has his shortcomings but we don’t need another left sided centreback

Hypocrisy of this forum summed up in this thread.

ESR has had 2-3 good months and a 30m fee is laughable.

White has had an entire good season and 45m is overpiced.

It's a frankly shocking signing in my mind. Leave alone the fact that it strengthens an area of the pitch which is probably the least focus currently, but also simply in terms of relative value even if we accept for a minute that we need a high quality CB signing. Skriniar is supposedly available at more or less the same fee. Trust Arteta to prioritize ball playing capabilities in a CB and defensive capabilities in a winger (e.g., Willian vs Pepe). Clueless git.

USArsenal wrote:

I dont get why people are complaining that we spent 50m on a pretty good CB. He's proven in the Prem, he's young, he can move the ball, he's pretty quick. Who the hell cares what we spent on him. It's not our money. Now, if it hampers other signings, ok, i guess i could see that argument, but there's every chance we will be making more signings this summer, so I'll just sit back and see what we come up with before the season starts

Because that £50m would be better spent in other more urgent areas (RB, CM) than on an unheralded midget CB whom no one on this forum would’ve wish-listed prior to him getting linked with us while also having a similarly aged big prospect on our books who plays the same position. It represents a sub-optimal allocation of resources for a club that is reportedly not awash with cash.

Our defence was not our achilles heel last season - we were 4th lowest in goals conceded. With the prospective return of Saliba, there was no urgency or need to splash what would be the club’s 3rd highest transfer fee on another young CB who would theoretically push out Saliba. That screams inefficient use of funds.

If Arteta wasn’t an appalling man-manager who has no idea how to maximize the club’s resources or willing to place the club before his ego, we would probably be salivating over the talent of Saliba right now as he comes off his first full season with us and, rather than wasting that £50m on an unrequired CB, we could be utilizing that same amount to bring in a world class CM for example.

I keep seeing this statement that “defense was not our Achilles heel last season” simply because we had the 3rd best defense in the league.

If you actually spent time watching us closely, you’ll notice that our defense is actually a large part of our problems. That 3rd best defense is not necessarily an outcome of great defending, it’s due to conservatism largely driven by our midfield and defense. Our defenders were often bad on the ball and unable to advance it up the field. At right back, we did not have somebody who could reliably run and cross. At right centre back, we have Holding who has a very high pass percentage because he is making lots of short passes in conservative areas of the field. We often end up with the ball in the back, tromboning amongst these players.

As a result, our entire team is pulled back and often stretched, making it difficult to build offense and exert pressure on the opponent.

What White brings is ball playing ability. This will allow us to push the defensive line high, compress the team, and have better passing relationships. When we get the ball in our own penalty area, it will also allow us to get out faster. White is speedy and will be able to recover from a high defensive line. As would Saliba and Gabriel. The same isn’t true of Holding, Luiz, etc.

So defense was a very integral part of our offensive woes. This will help. As will getting a DLP who releases the ball faster.

Jed wrote:

USArsenal wrote:

I dont get why people are complaining that we spent 50m on a pretty good CB. He's proven in the Prem, he's young, he can move the ball, he's pretty quick. Who the hell cares what we spent on him. It's not our money. Now, if it hampers other signings, ok, i guess i could see that argument, but there's every chance we will be making more signings this summer, so I'll just sit back and see what we come up with before the season starts

Because that £50m would be better spent in other more urgent areas (RB, CM) than on an unheralded midget CB whom no one on this forum would’ve wish-listed prior to him getting linked with us while also having a similarly aged big prospect on our books who plays the same position. It represents a sub-optimal allocation of resources for a club that is reportedly not awash with cash.

Our defence was not our achilles heel last season - we were 4th lowest in goals conceded. With the prospective return of Saliba, there was no urgency or need to splash what would be the club’s 3rd highest transfer fee on another young CB who would theoretically push out Saliba. That screams inefficient use of funds.

If Arteta wasn’t an appalling man-manager who has no idea how to maximize the club’s resources or willing to place the club before his ego, we would probably be salivating over the talent of Saliba right now as he comes off his first full season with us and, rather than wasting that £50m on an unrequired CB, we could be utilizing that same amount to bring in a world class CM for example.

100 percent this.

Also, how many have really seen White play?

Claudius wrote:

I keep seeing this statement that “defense was not our Achilles heel last season” simply because we had the 3rd best defense in the league.

If you actually spent time watching us closely, you’ll notice that our defense is actually a large part of our problems. That 3rd best defense is not necessarily an outcome of great defending, it’s due to conservatism largely driven by our midfield and defense. Our defenders were often bad on the ball and unable to advance it up the field. At right back, we did not have somebody who could reliably run and cross. At right centre back, we have Holding who has a very high pass percentage because he is making lots of short passes in conservative areas of the field. We often end up with the ball in the back, tromboning amongst these players.

As a result, our entire team is pulled back and often stretched, making it difficult to build offense and exert pressure on the opponent.

What White brings is ball playing ability. This will allow us to push the defensive line high, compress the team, and have better passing relationships. When we get the ball in our own penalty area, it will also allow us to get out faster. White is speedy and will be able to recover from a high defensive line. As would Saliba and Gabriel. The same isn’t true of Holding, Luiz, etc.

So defense was a very integral part of our offensive woes. This will help. As will getting a DLP who releases the ball faster.

Do you think a ball playing CB will help us improve our gameplay and ball circulation more than a CM?

Not sure on the point regarding Arteta's man-managment of Saliba. Assuming the rumours are true, the situation has been mis-managed but not sure it has anything to do with how Arteta has personally interacted with him. I see zero evidence of that.

And I'm not saying Arteta is perfect in this area. He's shown he's flawed but there are plenty of experienced, successful managers who are flawed in this area.

Don Pacifico wrote:

And I'm not saying Arteta is perfect in this area. He's shown he's flawed but there are plenty of experienced, successful managers who are flawed in this area.

Can we get one of those then?

I agree btw on the first point. Arteta is not the only one at fault for the handling of Saliba, Edu and the bloke we got in to manage our loanees are partially responsible too. Arteta just gets the most criticism because the decision against Saliba originally came from him.

jones wrote:

Claudius wrote:

I keep seeing this statement that “defense was not our Achilles heel last season” simply because we had the 3rd best defense in the league.

If you actually spent time watching us closely, you’ll notice that our defense is actually a large part of our problems. That 3rd best defense is not necessarily an outcome of great defending, it’s due to conservatism largely driven by our midfield and defense. Our defenders were often bad on the ball and unable to advance it up the field. At right back, we did not have somebody who could reliably run and cross. At right centre back, we have Holding who has a very high pass percentage because he is making lots of short passes in conservative areas of the field. We often end up with the ball in the back, tromboning amongst these players.

As a result, our entire team is pulled back and often stretched, making it difficult to build offense and exert pressure on the opponent.

What White brings is ball playing ability. This will allow us to push the defensive line high, compress the team, and have better passing relationships. When we get the ball in our own penalty area, it will also allow us to get out faster. White is speedy and will be able to recover from a high defensive line. As would Saliba and Gabriel. The same isn’t true of Holding, Luiz, etc.

So defense was a very integral part of our offensive woes. This will help. As will getting a DLP who releases the ball faster.

Do you think a ball playing CB will help us improve our gameplay and ball circulation more than a CM?

I think both will help immensely to be honest. I spend a lot of time re-watching games and looking at our data. The balls die in our bottom right quadrant. Often teams are happy to relax and let us have it there. At least Xhaka is getting penetration from his part of the field as slow as he is. Solving Holding and Xhaka together will let the offense breathe.

If you watch teams like City and Atalanta, they’re moving the ball quickly through defense and CM. It needs both of those areas of the field having men who can pass and beat a man.

I would address this stuff before I even get Maddison and Isak

What I find interesting is that not a single one on here would probably propose spending 50m on a CB before we were linked with White, yet when it happens it's a wise decision. Personally I think it's just people wanting things to turn out okay, but maybe a lot of people just changed their mind about CB being a priority in that time intervall.

Claudius wrote:

jones wrote:

Do you think a ball playing CB will help us improve our gameplay and ball circulation more than a CM?

I think both will help immensely to be honest. I spend a lot of time re-watching games and looking at our data. The balls die in our bottom right quadrant. Often teams are happy to relax and let us have it there. At least Xhaka is getting penetration from his part of the field as slow as he is. Solving Holding and Xhaka together will let the offense breathe.

If you watch teams like City and Atalanta, they’re moving the ball quickly through defense and CM. It needs both of those areas of the field having men who can pass and beat a man.

I would address this stuff before I even get Maddison and Isak

I agree both would help, I disagree (if that's what you're saying) that both would do so equally. Central midfield has been a mess last season, getting someone in there who can improve the flow of the ball between the lines in either direction is paramount. Put it this way, if you put Verratti or Barella in our midfield you won't need a Alaba (or even Ben White based on his plaudits) type in central defence because either of the midgets would always position themselves in a way that could move the game forward without forcing the CB to try fancy passes. On the flip side if you do integrate a midget like White you should be sure that his ball playing ability negates his weakness in the air, because while Saliba might not be as good on the ball he definitely is at least a level above him physically. Then there's the question who White should be passing to if his acquisition has already depleted our war kitty like some journos are saying.

Either way it's 100% a risky signing, and to my mind it's a seriously poor one if we're not going to spend at least as much on a CM. I've never been one for spending big, there are plenty of bargains to be had everywhere but considering what 50m could get you in midfield you'd be mad to prioritise a rookie CB.

I am certain they will sign in midfield.
As for his shit aerial game, if Arteta sets up the team properly, we will defend by possessing the ball. The fewer games we have where we are the ones camped out in our penalty box, the less need there is for us to have a CB who wins every header. And yes, we will also need a better CM to achieve this. Ideally a RB too. But CM first

Claudius wrote:

I am certain they will sign in midfield.
As for his shit aerial game, if Arteta sets up the team properly, we will defend by possessing the ball. The fewer games we have where we are the ones camped out in our penalty box, the less need there is for us to have a CB who wins every header. And yes, we will also need a better CM to achieve this. Ideally a RB too. But CM first

You recon we'll get another proper midfielder aside Lok? Because dude is a rookie and can't be our main CM signing.

Big Willie wrote:

Claudius wrote:

I am certain they will sign in midfield.
As for his shit aerial game, if Arteta sets up the team properly, we will defend by possessing the ball. The fewer games we have where we are the ones camped out in our penalty box, the less need there is for us to have a CB who wins every header. And yes, we will also need a better CM to achieve this. Ideally a RB too. But CM first

You recon we'll get another proper midfielder aside Lok? Because dude is a rookie and can't be our main CM signing.

There is no way he is our main midfield signing. We need 4 mids. Partey, Loki, and Elneny. The last 2 aren’t starters.

You might be surprised bro. We thought Elneny was done for before Arteta. This might be the path opening up for him to the first team if Dhaka leaves.