Arsenal now look to be on the verge of agreeing a new contract with Ben White.
Ben White is close to agreeing fresh terms with Arsenal.
The versatile defender was hugely impressive against West Ham United last time out, as Mikel Arteta tweaked his tactical function in the side slightly.
Usually, the Gunners’ left-back, be it Oleksandr Zinchenko or someone else in that position, is asked to invert when Arsenal are in possession and drift into the middle of the park in order to bolster the midfield and lend support to the build-up play. White, at right-back, is generally instructed to stay wide and push forward, providing an overlapping run on the outside of the pitch in order to stretch the opposition defence and create space for Bukayo Saka to cut inside onto his favoured left-foot.
However, with Zinchenko sidelined by injury for Sunday’s clash at the London Stadium, and the likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber also unavailable, Jakub Kiwior was asked to fill-in at left-back. Naturally a centre-back, and less of a creator than the Ukrainian, Kiwior has struggled in the past to perform this left-back role in an inverted fashion. Therefore, on this occasion, he was not asked to.
Instead, Kiwior was allowed to stay wide and operate as a more orthodox left-back, whilst Arteta charged White with somehow playing two roles at once. Throughout the match, the 26-year-old could be seen at times bombing up the touchline to provide an option on the outside for Saka, and at other times working as an auxiliary midfielder alongside Declan Rice. As he performed both functions expertly, White really demonstrated why he has previously been described as being “perfect” for Arteta.
Arsenal close to Ben White contract breakthrough
The four-cap England international does not always get the attention or credit he is due. In fact, White has a habit of downplaying his own importance to this Arsenal team. The truth is, though, that the former Brighton and Hove Albion man is a vital piece in Arteta’s puzzle.
Therefore, it is unsurprising that, as reported by the Telegraph, the Gunners have worked so hard to tie down the long-term future of their “secret weapon” at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are now in “advanced stages” of talks over a new contract with White, after “months of discussions.”
Arsenal fans will surely be delighted to see the player pen a new deal with the club.
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