Move Over Timber: Arsenal’s “Innovative” Hale End Youngster is the Ideal Ben White Rival
Arsenal, under Arsène Wenger, became famous for their commitment to playing football in the ‘right way,’ regardless of the weather conditions.
While this philosophy produced some exceptional teams and thrilling moments for fans, it also caused frustration, especially when the team faced more physical and defensively organised opponents, leading to some heavy defeats in Wenger’s later years.
Today, although the desire to play attractive, attacking football remains embedded in the club’s DNA, Mikel Arteta has focused on making his team more difficult to break down, physically stronger, and perhaps a little more adept at mastering the so-called ‘dark arts.’
Arteta’s squad is now filled with tough and reliable players, like Jurrien Timber and Ben White, who have contributed to making Arsenal one of the most defensively solid teams in Europe. While these players could stay for years, the club’s academy may have already developed their future successors.
White and Timber’s Evolution at Arsenal
Arsenal’s acquisition of Ben White for £50 million in the summer of 2021 initially received mixed reviews. In fact, just a few months later, a survey among football agents labeled it the worst signing of the transfer window, which seems hard to believe in hindsight.
During his first season in North London, the former Brighton & Hove Albion player predominantly played as a centre-back. However, with the arrival of William Saliba in the following season, White transitioned to right-back, where he has excelled ever since.
To date, the Poole-born defender has made 95 appearances for Arsenal in the right-back position, contributing five goals and ten assists. In contrast, he has played 39 matches as a centre-back, where he has yet to record any goals or assists.
Although his transfer was not widely regarded as a wise decision at the time, White has undeniably proven his value to the club over the past three years. He is now joined by a versatile teammate, Jurrien Timber.
Timber, who signed with Arsenal for approximately £38 million last summer, faced a significant setback with an ACL injury that sidelined him for nearly the entire season. Yet, based on his performances so far this year, one would hardly suspect he endured such a serious injury.
This season, the former Ajax player has made six appearances, showcasing his adaptability by playing in left-back, right-back, and even defensive midfield roles. This versatility makes it challenging to predict where manager Mikel Arteta will deploy him during matches.
Both White and Timber have established themselves as outstanding players, and as long as they maintain their fitness, they have the potential to solidify Arsenal’s defence for years to come. However, they may soon face competition from a rising star from the academy.
The player being referred to from Hale End is Michal Rosiak, a Poland U19 international.
The 18-year-old has stood out in the club’s academy for a while and has indicated that he could be a promising long-term successor to either White or Timber.
One of the key factors contributing to this potential is his versatility. He has demonstrated proficiency as both a defensive midfielder, starting 34 matches in his junior career, and as a right-back, where he has made 17 starts to date.
| Rosiak’s versatility | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive Midfield | Right-Back | Central Midfield | Centre-Back |
| Appearances | 34 | 17 | 3 | 1 |
| Goals | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Assists | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Goal Involvements per Match | 0.55 | 0.64 | 0.00 | 1 |
| Stats Source: Transfermarkt | ||||
Despite his ability to play both positions at a high level, experts believe his best path to the first team will be as an inverted full-back. Hale End specialist and podcaster Will Balsam has referred to him as “the future of that position for the club,” praising his “innovative passing range.”
The second reason is related to the first.
Due to his experience in central midfield, this talented young player shows remarkable composure on the ball and can impact the game at both ends of the pitch. In his 34 starts as a defensive midfielder, he has accumulated an impressive total of 11 goals and eight assists, averaging a goal contribution every 1.78 games.
Although it may take a few more years before Rosiak consistently features in the first team, the indicators are overwhelmingly encouraging.
In other Arsenal news, ‘The Perfect Captain’ – Kai Havertz Reveals What Martin Odegaard Has Been Doing Behind the Scenes at Arsenal Amid Injury
