Carragher & Neville Tore Into Arsenal “Warrior” on Debut, Now He’s Undroppable
Over the past four to five years, Arsenal have undergone a remarkable transformation, both on and off the pitch.
The North London club, once struggling in eighth place and spending large sums on players like Nicolas Pepe, are now competing for the title and signing top talents such as Leandro Trossard, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard.
This dramatic shift is largely credited to Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar, whose leadership has significantly revamped the team. In recent transfer windows, their decisions have faced little criticism, unlike a few years ago when their transfer dealings were more contentious.
In fact, one of the club’s signings in 2021 faced harsh criticism from football pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville after his debut. However, the player has since exceeded expectations and proven their initial doubts wrong.
The player in question is Ben White, a standout right-back. At 26 years old, he initially played as a centre-back during his first season at Arsenal, following his £50m transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion. His debut came in the opening game of the 21/22 season against newly promoted Brentford.
Unfortunately for White, his performance in that match was lackluster, and he was among the more underwhelming players in a disappointing 2-0 defeat for Arsenal.
After the game, Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville criticized his debut harshly, focusing on his height, lack of experience, and perceived naivety.
While the criticism was fair at the time, the idea that White would continue to struggle for Arsenal has proven to be incorrect. His positional switch from centre-back to right-back came largely due to the arrival of William Saliba.
In March 2022, White played a full 90 minutes for England as a centre-back, and losing his spot to the talented Frenchman was not a reflection of his abilities.
Over the past three years, White has addressed concerns about his performance and has become a crucial player for Arsenal. He has earned a reputation as a “defensive warrior,” a term coined by talent scout Jacek Kulig. Not only has he solidified his place in the team, but he has also become nearly indispensable.
According to the Standard, White’s impressive form has led to Jurrien Timber being utilized more on the left side this season, despite initial plans to have Timber compete with White on the right.
| White’s Arsenal career | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 138 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Assists | 10 |
| Goal Involvements per Match | 0.11 |
| All Stats via Transfermarkt | |
In total, the fan-favorite player, though not as popular with other fanbases due to his on-field behavior, has now made 138 appearances for the North London club. Out of these, he has started 39 matches as a center-back and 94 as a right-back, with the remaining five coming from substitute appearances.
Additionally, he has developed into more of an attacking force, working effectively with Bukayo Saka and Odegaard on the right side. His contributions include ten assists and six goals, one of which marked the club’s 10,000th goal across all competitions.
Despite a rocky start to his Arsenal career, White has ultimately proven his worth. His performances have validated his initial transfer fee and his new £150k-per-week contract, securing his position as one of the top defenders in the country.
In other Arsenal news, Arsenal Confident “Immense” Player Will Be Fit for Man City After Injury Scare
