Ben White is a very curious footballer. The Englishman is someone who doesn’t enjoy the game much at times other than playing it. Yet, he is one of the best young English defenders capable of playing at both right-back and centre-back. The ex-Brighton star has had a curious career at international level so far.
Not fancied by ex-England manager Gareth Southgate for a starting role, Ben White often found himself called up regularly to the squad but hardly receiving minutes to represent his nation. The 26-year-old had enough of this trend, making himself unavailable for selection ahead of the recently concluded Euros.
Not that Southgate was complaining. Irrespective of what right-back options he had in the squad, the manager was only going to start Kyle Walker at right-back. It was pointless for the Arsenal man to travel to yet another tournament just to get stuck to the bench the whole time. White instead used the time to recuperate for the new season.
Ben White – Mr. Consistent!
White is one of the most underrated players in Mikel Arteta‘s squad. His performances go under the radar for the best part due to the unflashy way with which he goes about his business. It is no coincidence that Bukayo Saka looks half the player he is when White is not with him on the international stage.
The duo can make a case for being the most productive duo in the entirety of the Premier League. They have an excellent understanding of the right flank for the Gunners to the extent that you can blindfold both of them and Saka would still find White on an overlapping run and the latter would reciprocate with an inch-perfect cutback.
Arteta values White a lot in his team. The 26-year-old hardly misses a game for the Gunners and his fitness is out of the world. If you made the Spanish tactician write a name on his teamsheet first, it would probably be White’s.
Post Southgate hopes?
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Ben White’s agent Alex Levack was asked if an English return was possible for his client and the agent left the door open for Lee Carsley to call him up to the next squad that he picks
“I suppose….wait and see”
England are unbelievably stacked in the right-back area with the likes of Walker, Trent-Alexander Arnold, Reece James, Kieran Trippier and White himself. That said, the 26-year-old can also play in central defence and England could even look at him as an alternative to Harry Maguire.
England trusting White would also help them get the best out of Saka, as we already have acknowledged in this article. Let’s hope the Gunners man gets a chance to play a prominent role for the Three Lions. If not, who are we to complain? After all, it bodes well for us that White will be rested, fit and firing for the Arsenal games and that is what matters.
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