The news of Ben White’s imminent Contract extension has caught the attention of club fans who have been in awe of the England international’s consistent performances since his arrival from Brighton in the summer of 2021, setting a record at the time with a £50 million transfer fee for a defender at Arsenal.

White’s current contract is set to expire in 2026, but his growth, consistency, and importance to the team under Mikel Arteta have made him worthy of being offered a new and improved contract, which will see him join the likes of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and others who have signed new contracts in recent times.

Ben White has shown tremendous versatility, consistency, and improvement so far under the tutelage of Mikel Arteta, who works hard to get the best out of his players despite his few years of experience as a top-flight manager.

Considering his versatility, White’s change of role never dented his performances since he permanently took up the right-back position. He has formed a good understanding with his fellow countryman, Bukayo Saka, down the right side of the pitch. Their understanding of the game and individual movements in and out of spaces on the right side of the pitch has made them one of the most unpredictable duos in the league.

In a recent interview with Sky Sport, White spoke about the need to be versatile while playing in Mikel Arteta’s system. He said, “Definitely, especially with this manager. I could play full-back; I could play anywhere across the backline or in the center midfield, but playing full-back the way the manager wants is, I think, completely different to any other manager.

“To play full-back for him, you’ve got to be a center-mid, a center-back, a winger, and a No. 10. So it’s been about developing the whole of my game rather than just as a full-back or center-back.”

BEN WHITE DEFENSIVE IMPORTANCE

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White is regarded as one of the most highly rated center-backs, as acknowledged by former and current professionals in the game, including Sergio Ramos while watching Ben White play for Newport. Leeds United Director Victor Orta said during The Phil Hay Show: “I remember in the first moment Sergio Ramos said, ‘Who is this kid?’ Playing in the line of Newport.” White has helped Arsenal’s backline become one of the most solid defenses in the league.

His unique attributes, such as tackling, aerial prowess, positioning, versatility, composure, and passing the ball out from the back, have helped the team maintain possession. His composure on the ball has been so impressive and helps the team build-up play from the back, beating the opposition press without coming under pressure.

Out of possession, Ben White has the pace to trackback to regain possession or cover up the space left behind him.

White’s versatility comes into play noticeably during the match when the manager makes tactical changes, depending on the opponent’s shape. In some cases, White takes up the RCB role to form a 3-man defense alongside Saliba as CCB, and Gabriel Magalhaes takes up the LCB position, which allows Zinchenko to invert and occupy the vacated space in the midfield or create an overload in some areas on the pitch, making himself available for a pass.

WHITE ATTACKING CONTRIBUTION

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On several occasions, different coaches set out their plan to have two to three players close down Bukayo Saka while he’s with the ball, considering his attacking threats, limiting his penetrating runs into the box, and stiffening his options from the right side. This has seen the need to have an overlapping player run into the space behind him to distract the opponents or take away one of the players faced by Saka.

This move has made White record the best and make the most overlapping runs by a fullback in the Premier League, according to the Premier League’s tracking data this season. White has made 42 overlapping runs, which is more than any other fullback in the league.

In an interview with Sky Sports News, White said, “I am doing all his running. That’s what I’m there to do. I’m there to help him get into positions where he can do what he is good at. If that means I have to do more running, then that’s what it is.

“If I do it 10 times, there’s probably going to be one where we end up scoring. But also, by doing that, I’m taking away a winger who should be up the pitch and is most dangerous there.”

AVAILABILITY IS THE BEST ABILITY

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Ben White has been one of the most available players on the team since he joined the club in the summer of 2021. His incredible fitness level has been one of the keys to his obvious growth and importance to the team.

A new contract around the corner will surely give the club the stability it needs in the long run.

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