Clrnc wrote:

Coombs wrote:

Is there ever a point when people say stuff like this? It's completely and utterly meaningless.

I think he's trying to put context into how much we are actually paying for Ben White in the current climate

How ever perhaps the 'real' context is about looking at the transfer in terms of what it means in terms of our tactics, and perhaps the underlying criteria of being 'EPL ready' to hit the ground running.  Whilst Hakimi may be a better quality player he won't change our ability to play a high Defensive line, and nor would he be 'EPL ready'. 

Hakimi would never come to us if there are other suitors that are in the CL. It would take us paying at extraordinary wage to entice him if at all, in which case the overall cost will be much higher than White's. There is more to the context.

English premiums are nonsense. Solely upheld by the home grown rule.

Hakimi is not bloody world class. Bloke is obviously good but talk about gaining an undeserved social media reputation. This is like when people lost their marbles over Aurier just because he scored goals. I can't remember one game I watched lst season where Hakimi actually played as a rightback.

That's because Conte doesn't play right backs he plays 352. And since there's no one who plays that position as well as he does he's of course bloody world class.

Nah. You might as well compare him to wingers. And you'd have to play a very specific way to use him. We're not going to change our whole formation again hopefully. I'd hate to give Arteta an excuse to go back to a three-man defence.

I have a similar opinion of Gosens as well. Not a huge fan of him defensively.

If we had wingbacks like Hakimi and Goosens I would have no problem with 3 at the back.

I've seen many call him Goosens with the double o, is this his spelling in another language or is it just like when some wrote Wilshire?

Was wondering the same. Quite annoying.

Klaus wrote:

Nah. You might as well compare him to wingers. And you'd have to play a very specific way to use him. We're not going to change our whole formation again hopefully. I'd hate to give Arteta an excuse to go back to a three-man defence.

I don't want to try a three man defence either, I wasn't even really asking for us to sign Hakimi. He'd be a massive improvement but we have bigger issues, also while Tierney is a good crosser I'm not sure he'd be as effective as a wing back. If we had Gosens on the other side it'd be a different matter.

Not that we could remotely tempt him but there are some players who are good enough that you just accommodate them. Kostic is basically the left footed equivalent of Hakimi and was one of the best players in Germany last season. Frankfurts build up play was very lopsided but how do you argue with four goals and seventeen assists from your wing back?

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

I've seen many call him Goosens with the double o, is this his spelling in another language or is it just like when some wrote Wilshire?

Goosens is a common Flemish name, Gosens is a rarer spelling (he's half Dutch) I think but maybe Gurgen or someone else can correct me.

Plus in English I've only heard it being Gosens pronounced with the double O sound like in Goose.

I pronounce it Who-senz. Must be said with a stern frown and absolutely no hint of joy in your face.

Tifo video -

Looks like the price has gone up to £55m...

We have to sell Xhaka, Bellerin, Douzi and Torreira to cover Ben White. All to indulge Arteta. Can we just use that money to tempt Bielsa to manage Arsenal.

White is supposedly great for his progressive passing and carries but his stats there aren't outstanding either. Saliba has better stats albeit in the French Ligue.

Walk away. Keep Saliba and fix our midfield ( Spend the money on Locatelli and get a RB )