Arsenal star Ben White has been a crucial figure in the back line since he arrived three years ago, and is a very popular figure at the club.
Ben White has excelled as a right-back in the last two years, and contributes heavily both defensively and further up the pitch, providing a lot of support to Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard on the right-hand side.
The 26-year-old has also proven to be Mikel Arteta’s secret weapon on Arsenal’s set-pieces. Arsenal were the best team at both defending set-pieces and scoring from them last season, with White playing a huge role at both ends.
Whilst William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are the more potent members of the Arsenal defence when it comes to scoring from set-pieces, White’s role cannot be understated as he helps create space for them.
Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has been praised for the specialist set-piece routines he introduced to the squad, and this would see White often rile up opposition goalkeepers and block them with his positioning. However, he may not be able to do so anymore.
PGMOL announce Premier League rule change that will affect Ben White
The PGMOL have now announced that they will be clamping down on set-piece obstruction offences. This means that in attacking set pieces if a defender or goalkeeper is impeded, a foul will be awarded.
This is to ensure that attacking players cannot prevent defenders and goalkeepers from moving, where there is a clear or non-footballing impact on the defensive player.
This extends to players “standing in an obstructive position,” as reported by The Times, and this will badly affect White, given that this was his speciality on attacking set-pieces.
White would often occupy the space near the opposition goalkeepers, preventing them from claiming high crosses, and this would allow the likes of Gabriel, Saliba or Kai Havertz to nod in.
However, this may now be penalised under the new rules, and Arsenal need to find a solution.
Mikel Arteta needs to adapt attacking set-piece tactics at Arsenal
Arteta and Jover now need to think of alternative ways to create the advantage in the box provided by placing White on the opposition goalkeeper.
Set-pieces were crucial for Arsenal last season, as they scored 22 goals from them, more than any other side in the league.
If Arsenal are to lose the threat of White blocking goalkeepers, then the other aerial threats may find it more difficult to gain chances from free-kicks and corners.
Arsenal may face some frustration early on as the but with new VAR technology arriving in the Premier League soon, they will at least hope that any goals disallowed due to the new set-piece measures will at least be awarded fairly.
Arsenal will begin their Premier League campaign at home to Wolves, and the new guidance surrounding set-pieces will become clear very quickly.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
