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Arsenal could have an ‘interesting’ situation developing with Ben White
Arsenal defender Ben White has been an incredibly consistent performer for Mikel Arteta since he joined the club from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021.
White has amassed 153 appearances for Arsenal in those four years and he was an undisputed starter for the club prior to his recent knee surgery.
White had been playing through injury for Arsenal for some time — a player who was putting the club’s needs before his own.
Of course, Arteta has endlessly complimented the 27-year-old over the years, who should now make a return to the England fold under Thomas Tuchel.
However, it is now interesting to consider what the future may hold for White at Arsenal, who has seen Jurrien Timber excel at right-back in recent months.
Ben White’s unexpected predicament at Arsenal
That being said, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has now spoken about the ‘curious case of Benjamin White’, a player who might actually now find himself on the periphery of things at Arsenal.
White hasn’t quite returned to full fitness just yet for Arteta’s order of defenders to be judged, but it would seem as if Myles Lewis-Skelly and Timber currently have the full-back roles locked down.
Speaking to TBR about the situation, Bailey said: “This could very well be the curious case of Benjamin White, he has been such a pivotal and important player under Arteta during his Arsenal project, but sometimes needs must.
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“White has never let Arsenal down, but Timber is now fit and looks even better than the club hoped – he can play everywhere, left and even CDM but he is at home at right-back and as it stands looks better fit than White.
“Then there is the emergence of Lewis-Skelly, so Timber isn’t needed as much on the left whilst there is also [Riccardo] Calafiori who takes up another defensive slot.
“One other thing I find interesting is Arsenal looking for another central defender – Dean Huijsen and Nathan Collins are two they are looking at, and they insist they want them to compliment Saliba and Gabriel, I find it interesting as it seems White won’t or isn’t going to be used in that role.
“I think White’s situation is one to look at.”
Arsenal still have Takehiro Tomiyasu to return
Of course, were Arteta to be questioned on White’s future he would obviously insist that the Englishman is going nowhere — a vital player for his project.
But were White often to be benched next season in favour of Timber at right-back, it might provoke some questions for the former Leeds United loanee.
As mentioned, Arsenal are interested in Nathan Collins at Brentford, another homegrown talent who might be able to improve on the job whilst providing back-up for Arteta.
And in terms of Arsenal’s options at right-back, it should be remembered that the club also have Takehiro Tomiyasu in reserve when he finally returns to fitness.
It’s a big squad to manage and keep happy for Arteta when all are fit, and it would be peculiar to see a fully fit White on the sidelines in the future, which might actually be a realistic prospect.