Arsenal defender Ben White has shared an interesting insight into the squad’s pre-season experience.
The right-back has just kicked off his fourth season at Arsenal after making the move to North London from Brighton back in 2021.
At the time of his arrival, many mocked Mikel Arteta’s decision to spend £50m on the fullback, words that have since been retracted due to the Englishman’s form.
White has certainly found home at Arsenal however, with home doesn’t necessarily come comfort, as the 26-year-old explained when opening up on the squad’s pre-season.
Ben White says Arsenal’s pre-season was different this summer
Speaking to the media team, relayed by Arsenal’s official website, before the Gunners’ Premier League clash with Aston Villa, White opened up on the squad’s desire to close the gap on Manchester City.
While the league kicked off last weekend, preparation started weeks ago, with the right-back shedding light on why this summer was a “different” experience for the players.
“This pre-season was different, a different atmosphere,” White explained.
“We’re here to really do something and we know that we can because we got so close. It’s the confidence that we’re producing in training and in the first game.”
White’s admission is encouraging considering how close the Gunners got to securing their first Premier League title in 20 years last season.
Now, the stakes are even higher, with the prospect of falling short to Manchester City for the third consecutive campaign not an option.
Arsenal started the Premier League season as expected, beating Wolves 2-0 at the Emirates to secure a fast start, something they will hope to continue against Aston Villa.
White understands the importance of Arsenal winning the Premier League this season
While winning the Premier League is not necessarily life or death for Arsenal, there is a growing understanding that Arteta’s squad should deliver a title soon.
Manchester City need to be dethroned, and Arsenal are the club that have crawled closest to doing so, with missing out in 2022/23 and 2023/24 in agonising and avoidable fashion.
A clear sense of progression was evident last season but the fact remained that Arsenal were unable to catch Pep Guardiola’s machine, suffering a needless defeat to Villa in the run-in which proved to be decisive.
By White’s own admission, things have already changed this year, with there an understanding that work needs to be done to simply ensure that the Gunners stay on course to achieve perfection.
It will take a lot to steal City’s crown but Arsenal are clued up on all the tricks in the book, with the opportunity there to put their knowledge to the test.
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