✍️ OFFICIAL Ben White

[Riou]

Who the hell is Rodon?

Sp**s look pretty far away from the other pairings...plus Nuno has only been good with a 3 at the back, so it will be interesting to see if they switch to that.

 

[Blankety Blank]

Decided to support this signing.

Supporters should support

 

[TornadoTed]

In my opinion,

Dias and Stones as the clear winner because they are tried and tested and injury free. I would put us and Sp**s 5th and 6th because of age, they are two youngest pairings and just how good a lot of the other guys are.

It is really hard to separate VVD/Konate, Maguire/Varane and Kounde/Rudiger. All could be fantastic but there are question marks. How will players acclimatise to the Premiership, will VVD get back to his pre injury level etc.

I can't think of a time when there were so many potentially great central defensive partnerships. It will facsinating to see how the season unfolds and if any of the partnerships are the 'difference maker'

 

[SK___]

White is ahead of it. He asked for Vinai to be in the room so he'd look taller.

(Vinai is actually tall tho? Either way)

irl he’s not?

 

[El Duderino]

irl he’s not?

Think he's like 180cm.

 

[SK___]

Think he's like 180cm.

that’s not tall, kinda average really, but he seemed small when I saw him... (we don’t have to play him so it’s fine)

 

[bonzka]

Actually reckon they'll do the media thing fast enough, since he needs to get into training ASAP.

Medical was already done, so this one shouldn't take long.

fella needs to endear himself to us. Straight into training. Max out the bleep test.

Starring turn in the next Arsenal training video.

 

[HaffBR]

Good player. But David Luiz was also a good player (in 99% of the time) for Arsenal. But yes way better than the bums of Holding etc.

 

[AbouCuéllar]

In my opinion,

Dias and Stones as the clear winner because they are tried and tested and injury free. I would put us and Sp**s 5th and 6th because of age, they are two youngest pairings and just how good a lot of the other guys are.

It is really hard to separate VVD/Konate, Maguire/Varane and Kounde/Rudiger. All could be fantastic but there are question marks. How will players acclimatise to the Premiership, will VVD get back to his pre injury level etc.

I can't think of a time when there were so many potentially great central defensive partnerships. It will facsinating to see how the season unfolds and if any of the partnerships are the 'difference maker'

VVD/Konate (Matip), Koundé/Rüdiger, and Maguire/Varane, in that order.

Varane really isn't all that special, he's a good defender but he's not great bringing the ball out. When he first broke out he looked surely like he was going to be a generational CB (was at the clásico in the copa del rey when he really broke out and scored from a header, man what a potential monster he looked then) but injuries really took it out of him and at this point I'd prefer Ben White to him.

 

[Sebastes]

Tried and tested is obviously Dias and Stones, been very impressed with John Stones but when fit VVD and Konate are the best partnership there. VVD carried a trash defender like Lovren when they won the PL.

If VVD goes back to his form prior to his injury then he’ll carry that defence.

I'd even go as far as to say that if VVD goes back into that form you can pretty much put anyone beside him and it'll be the best partnership.

 

[Sebastes]

Saw an article talking about the big 6 central defensive partnerships for next season and who was best.

Dias Stones
VVD Konate
Kounde Rudiger
Maguire Varane
Gabriel White
Romero Rodon

Opinions everyone?

VVD Konate (or Gomez, don't think it's obvious Konate will be chosen if both are fit)
Dias Stones

Maguire Varane

Gabriel White

Koundé Rudiger
Romero Rodon

Spaces to indicate clear gaps in quality

 

[2Smokeyy]

I'd even go as far as to say that if VVD goes back into that form you can pretty much put anyone beside him and it'll be the best partnership.

Criminal that we didn’t even try for VVD when he was at Southampton and before Liverpool, City, Utd etc were interested in him.

Knew he was class whenever we found it so difficult playing against that Southampton team. I remember they were our bogey team for a while.

 

[GDeep™]

VVD/Konate (Matip), Koundé/Rüdiger, and Maguire/Varane, in that order.

Varane really isn't all that special, he's a good defender but he's not great bringing the ball out. When he first broke out he looked surely like he was going to be a generational CB (was at the clásico in the copa del rey when he really broke out and scored from a header, man what a potential monster he looked then) but injuries really took it out of him and at this point I'd prefer Ben White to him.

Kounde will play in a 3 and i think he’ll look great. In a two though, I’m not sure.

 

[Mitch]

And Holdini is still playing games as a starter

Wish that was the case as he was our best and most consistent player after KT and played vital role in us having such a good defensive record. However it looks like Wgite will replace Hlodini to improve the teams build up play at the back despite wearing us defensively. Hopefully White will be utilised as as DCM instead of CB.

 

[Mitch]

We can't pass ball from back we look clueless every time Luiz gone injured.

Disagree, Gabriel is very good on ball and Holding isn't as bad on the ball as many make out. The most imporant thing is in Holdini and Gabriel we have the mosr solid defensive CB pairing we have had in many years. Whilst ours CMs have never been this bad.

 

[Sebastes]

Criminal that we didn’t even try for VVD when he was at Southampton and before Liverpool, City, Utd etc were interested in him.

Knew he was class whenever we found it so difficult playing against that Southampton team. I remember they were our bogey team for a while.

Yep, there was definitely an opening to sign in the summer of 2017 after Liverpool had tapped him up (and wasn't allowed to make a new approach until jan 2018 iirc). We could have sold Alexis and that would've funded the majority of VVD's fee as well.

 

[El Duderino]

. Whilst ours CMs have never been this bad.

We were literally fielding a no legs Arteta along with a no legs Flamini.

Hell, we don't even need to go that far, we had Elneny along with Xhaka and Ceballos. Luckly a fit Partey will make a bigger difference this year.

 

[Riou]

We were literally fielding a no legs Arteta along with a no legs Flamini.

Flamteta

 

[El Duderino]

Flamteta

At least one of the two went on to having a great post playing career.

Hopefully Arteta can get there as well.

 

[Mitch]

We were literally fielding a no legs Arteta along with a no legs Flamini.

Hell, we don't even need to go that far, we had Elneny along with Xhaka and Ceballos. Luckly a fit Partey will make a bigger difference this year.

Arteta was superior to our current crop of cms. In Ceballos first season, him and Xhaka actually had performaned well unlike last season where they were dreadful.

I hope you're right about Partey but going on just how woeful he was last season I am doubtful.