Can Ben White Take Arsenal To The Next Level?
It’s been confirmed that Ben White will be announced as an Arsenal player in the coming days. Not only does this get me excited when Arsenal spend some cash, but many Arsenal fans, myself included, are curious to know whether or not he will live up to the £50 price tag heading into the season.
With 15 days to go until the Premier League campaign kicks off, I’ll dig deeper into some of his strengths, weaknesses, and give you my take on this bright 23 year-old centre back. Let’s dive in!
Defensive Integrity
Ben White brings an old school flavour with a pinch of flair in his toolbox. White is quick, decisive, and makes good decisions when required. Last season was his only full season in the Premier League, but he’s already shown levels of maturity in the backline that emulate a leader. If you take a quick look at Brighton’s defensive record, you will see my point. The Seagulls finished top 8 in the following categories – clean sheets (6th), goals conceded (7th), interceptions (6th), and tackles (8th).
Keep in mind, Brighton finished all the way in 16th place last season. Clearly, Graham Potter’s men had trouble finding the back of the net when they needed it most and not on the defensive side of the pitch. Check out some Ben White defensive highlights to see exactly what I mean!
Development and Durability
At only 23, Ben White has been developing right under our noses. 43 starts, out of a possible 43, in the Championship with Leeds in 2019 and 36 starts, out of a possible 38, in the Premier League with Brighton. White is extremely durable when it comes to appearances and has already proven his ability under the bright lights of the Premier League.
Being selected to the English national team this summer is also a significant step in White’s development. Even though White didn’t make an appearance for England, the importance of being known throughout the camp is a confidence boost alone. Arteta will have greater trust in White when he does arrive just knowing he had experience on a national stage with the best European players in the world.
Offensive Output
The Premier League today expects goals, and plenty of them. White will need to work on his offensive awareness when waiting on set piece possessions. Last season he failed to score or provide an assist and he was well under average among all centre backs for shots, shots on target, and expected goals.
Arsenal are well equipped with offensive weapons, but having a strong centre back that can provide a few goals would be a massive boost for Arteta, especially on set pieces.
There is so much to be excited about with Arsenal this season, but adding Ben White will be a great start to a new era for the Gunners. With more expected to join and others expected to depart, Arteta is slowly formulating a squad that emulates his vision. As long as White continues to bring positive performances from the start this season, I can’t imagine how the fanbase couldn’t fall in love with the young Englishman.
