For the first time in 27 consecutive Premier League games, Ben White was named on the bench when Arsenal locked horns with Manchester City. You’d have to go back to November 25, 2023 against Brentford, for the last time White was on the bench.
Joining the club from Brighton for £50m in 2021, White has been a consistent performer, featuring as a center back in his maiden season before the emergence of William Saliba after three loan spells in France saw him move to right back. His partnership with Bukayo Saka nad Martin Odegaard on the right is an essential part of Arsenal’s play and he has been ever-present for the first team. He didn’t play for England in the recently concluded European Championships and this allowed him to have good preseason preparations ahead of the new campaign.
White has started every game he has been available for this season, playing 90 minutes in each of them.
Mikel Arteta explains decision to bench Ben White
Apparently, White was nursing a knock ahead of the clash against Manchester City and Arteta made the decision to bench him to protect him.
“I spoke to Ben yesterday, I wanted to protect him and he’s not going to ever tell you that he’s not fit.
“He will run through a brick wall for you and the intention was to try not to use him today, but we had to and I’m very grateful because he performed very well.”
Arteta also had a capable replacement in the form of Jurrien Timber, that put up a great performance on the night, quelling every attacking threat Doku had to offer. However, Leandro Trossard’s unfortunate red card forced the gaffers hand to go defensive, and White had to be deployed as a right-sided center half to support the team.
He came on as a sub at the start of the second half for Bukayo Saka and will be odds on to get the night off in the Carabao Cup clash with Bolton Wanderers tomorrow. We will await Arteta’s press conference on Friday to ascertain his availability for the clash against Leicester City this weekend.
