Analysis

Has Ben White made Arsenal stronger at the back

Ben_White_Arsenal_Analysis

Ben White was Arsenal’s biggest signing during the summer transfer window. The Gunners spent over £140 million in total and a large chunk of that was on the defender who joined from Brighton.

Mikel Arteta was desperate to add a centre-back to his squad during the off-season as that is the area of the field that his side have struggled in over the past couple of years. The 23-year-old arrives in North London with lots of experience of playing in the Premier League.

White played 39 times for Brighton last season where he was named their Player of the Season. He was linked with a move to Liverpool and Tottenham, however, it was Arsenal who were able to win the race for his signature.

The Englishman has made a good start to his Arsenal career and there are signs his addition to the starting XI has made the Gunners much stronger at the back. After a shaky start, they have kept successive clean sheets against Norwich and Burnley in 1-0 victories.

1-0 wins were common for Arsenal in the 90s, particularly under manager George Graham. They are something supporters of the club will happily get used to if their team continue to move up the table.

Unlike some Arsenal centre-backs in Arteta’s reign, White is not a flashy defender, but that by no means takes away from how good he is. The former Brighton man is very solid. His positioning is excellent, and he reads the game well.

White-Gabriel Partnership Could Work Out Well for Gunners

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In the early stages of the 2021/22 campaign, White has been a good partner for Gabriel who is in his second season in England. The Brazilian is still learning about the English game, and he will benefit greatly from having the England international alongside him.

Together, White and Gabriel have all the attributes to be one of the best central defensive partnerships in the Premier League. Both players are in their early 20s, so the more they play together, they should grow together and develop an even better understanding of each other’s game.

Arsenal are priced at odds of 2/1 in the football betting for a top-six finish this season, the minimum aim for the Gunners as they look to break back into Europe. But with the club still in a somewhat transitional stage, those backing Arteta’s side should consider using some free bet codes which may allow them to get money back or place a no deposit punt on them this season. The is Arsenal team has the quality and potential, but now it’s down to Arteta to make the team click, and build on a promising defensive partnership. If White and Gabriel continue to work well together, they could really push for the top-six places.

The Gunners don’t have European football to worry about this season, so they are able to concentrate on the Premier League and the cup competitions. This may allow them to finish much better than the eighth place they had to settle for the in 2020/21 campaign.

England Regular Start Will be White’s Goal

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White has played twice for England and he was part of the squad for Euro 2020 which made the final of the tournament before they lost to Italy. Unfortunately for the new Arsenal man, he did not play a minute in that competition.

Playing regularly for the Gunners is going to help White prove himself to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate. The defensive positions in the team are certainly up for grabs ahead of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

In their last fixture against Poland, Harry Maguire and John Stones were the centre-back pairing but with more matches to come before the World Cup, there may be the chance for White and others to get some game time in an England shirt.

The early signs suggest White could be a future Arsenal captain. He looks to have great leadership skills on the pitch and if he continues making impressive performances, he will be around for a long time to come.

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