Arsenal are showing transfer interest in signing Nnamdi Collins from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer, a player who is comparable to Ben White.
White has a lot to offer Arsenal, but his availability is so hit or miss that he’s fallen down the pecking order in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Going from a first-team regular to a player who has only played 1633 Premier League minutes since the start of last season, Arsenal fans don’t see as much of White as they perhaps hope.
As Arsenal’s season continues to pass White by, naturally, discussions have been had about his future, with the latest transfer link suggesting that the Englishman’s time in N5 could soon end.
How much money should Arsenal demand for Ben White if Mikel Arteta decides to sell him?
Arsenal paid £50m for Ben White in 2021.
Arsenal consider Nnamdi Collins transfer
According to TEAMtalk, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Collins has been ‘catching the eye’ of Arsenal scouts.
It’s understood that the versatile German defender has been impressing Arsenal, who are said to see the 22-year-old as a profile similar to White.
TEAMtalk’s take on the interest is particularly interesting, dubbing the Gunners’ liking of the Frankfurt star as ‘especially relevant’ due to how the club are considering their long-term plans for the right-back position.
Ben White’s future is surely questionable amid Nnamdi Collins links
Now, I don’t know about you, but it’s not rocket science to see the link between scouting Collins and White’s uncertain future.
In January, it was reported that White is aware that leaving Arsenal could be the next step in his career, given how far he’s drifted away from being a firm starter in Arteta’s squad.
The fact that the club are actively thinking about how the right-back position could look long-term, it would be fair to assume that White could be on his way out in the summer.
Such would not be a surprise, given his lack of game time, but would replacing him with Collins be the right move?
Given how little football White has played this season, it’s fair to compare his 2024/25 statistics in the Premier League to Collins’ 2025/26 Bundesliga stats.
| Ben White | Statistic (p/g = per game) | Nnamdi Collins |
| 17 | Appearances | 19 |
| 13 | Starts | 12 |
| 2.5 | Duels won p/g | 3.9 |
| 2 | Goal contributions | 2 |
| 0.9 | Interceptions p/g | 1.2 |
| 1.2 | Tackles p/g | 2.3 |
Taking context out of the discussion, what the numbers reveal is that the players have similar strengths, ones that, at present, Collins outperforms White in.
Both players are centre-backs who are utilised as right-backs, both offering goal threat and defensive stability.
At surface level, it seems like a move for Collins could be a like-for-like swap for a player of White’s profile, but it’s never that simple.
True or false: Arsenal are a better team when Ben White plays over Jurrien Timber…
What White offers to Arsenal’s attack is unlike anyone else in Arteta’s squad, even Jurrien Timber, who is the first-choice right-back at the moment.
In my opinion, letting White go must be carefully considered, as while he doesn’t play often anymore, when he does, he brings a level of freshness in attack that the Gunners do not get elsewhere.
If Collins can replicate that, then it’s happy days… but only to a degree, as parting ways with White would be terribly sad.
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