I am sure that the viewing figures for Euro 2016 today will be significantly boosted by those of us of the Arsenal persuasion, especially for the first of the three games on offer, as the Switzerland v Albania gives us the first chance to see our new transfer acquisition in competitive action since Arsene Wenger moved swiftly to complete the signing of Granit Xhaka from the Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach.
Gooners everywhere will be tuning in and hoping to see our new central midfield star put on a show for his country, but according to a report in The Mirror he might not be the only new Arsenal player in the Swiss team. The paper is reporting that their left back Ricardo Rodriguez is a transfer target for the Gunners and that our chances of being able to sign him have just received a significant boost.
The talented 23-year old is currently on the books of the German club Wolfsburg, who are notoriously difficult to deal with and are helped in this attitude by their serious financial backing. So Arsene Wenger could well have found himself banging his head against a brick wall in his transfer pursuit of their player.
But his agent has just revealed that there is a release clause in the contract of Rodriguez that has just become active. Why do you think he would do this other than to encourage prospective suitors to bid for his client in the knowledge that Wolfsburg cannot stop him leaving if the clause is met.
So if I were you Arsenal fans, I would keep a close eye on the Switzerland left back today as well as our new midfielder.
Bob