Ian Wright has pinpointed one Arsenal player above all others following the club’s Premier League title win.
Speaking exclusively on the Arsecast podcast, the Arsenal legend was asked to reflect on the title triumph, before singling out Ben White.
“I’ll pinpoint Ben White. What Ben White has done, when he arrived for 50 million — everyone went f–king nuts because we paid 50 million for him, but he’s proven to be one of our greats in terms of signings,” Wright said.
“That man has virtually given his body up for what he’s done. He has given his body to Arsenal Football Club.”
How much money should Arsenal demand for Ben White if Mikel Arteta decides to sell him?
Arsenal paid £50m for Ben White in 2021.
He then drew a deeply personal comparison. “Let me tell you, as someone who has left there, my knee is f**ked now, my ankle is fused. I would do it again, and I’m sure Ben White would do it again.”
White sustained a significant medial ligament injury during Arsenal’s 1-0 win at West Ham earlier this month, leaving the London Stadium with his knee in a brace.
Arsenal confirmed he would miss the remainder of the season, ruling him out of the Champions League final against PSG in Budapest and ending his World Cup hopes with England.
Ben White’s Arsenal legacy amid uncertain future
White joined Arsenal from Brighton for £50 million in 2021, a fee that drew widespread scepticism at the time.
He silenced his critics almost immediately, playing every Premier League game in his debut season and becoming a key figure under Arteta.
Rob Holding once described him as a “mentality monster” after White played through what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury against Newcastle, perfectly encapsulating what Wright meant by “giving up his body”.
Injuries have taken their toll in recent seasons, with Jurrien Timber becoming first choice at right back.
But White had fought his way back into the team this season following Timber’s injury, and played 30 games in total.
He looked set to start in Budapest and may have even made the plane for the World Cup before the West Ham injury struck.
With speculation around his uncertain future, White may have already played his last game for Arsenal.
If so, Wright’s tribute is a fitting send-off for a player who gave everything.
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