When the season ended, almost every Arsenal fan had their list of players they expected to leave, and one player was found of nearly everyone’s list. Ben White.
It was not that fans did not rate Ben White. We did. But the expectation was that White himself would want to depart us to return to playing regular first team football again.
White will turn 29 in October and, in the last two seasons, has found himself on the fringes of Arsenal’s first team. Part due to injury, and part due to him not being able to displace the excellent Jurrien Timber.
Having seen some game time towards the back end of last season, White looked destined for a last minute seat on the plan out to the 2026 World Cup. And then injury hit again.
That spell in the Arsenal first team would have reminded White that he is good enough to play week in week out for a top Premier League side, and also force his way back into England contention now that Gareth Southgate had departed. But he could only do so if he left Arsenal.
Ben White would have walked into the first XI of the likes of Aston Villa and Manchester United. It is only really Arsenal and Manchester City where he would not be a guarantee starter. So it was highly expected that, if he got himself fit, Arsenal would look to cash in.
The deal would have benefited both Arsenal and White – The Englishman returns to regular first team football for a team playing in Europe, Arsenal get £40m+ which they could reinvest into a new, younger right back, without injury concerns and who may be a different profile.
Many theorised that we needed an attack minded right back who could compliment the more defensive Jurrien Timber, and that this could become an attacking substitute option for Mikel Arteta when chasing a game.
Role on a few months and it is increasingly looking like Ben White still has a role to play at Arsenal. And the feeling is that he happy with that role.
With William Saliba set for a long-term absence due to his back, it seemed that Arsenal pivoted transfer strategy.
Rather than going for an out and out right back such as Marco Palestra or Iván Fresneda, Arsenal began looking at someone who could be an option at both right back and centre back. Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa was the man earmarked for the role.
Konsa would have been able to come in and be Saliba’s replacement in the short term, whilst also covering for both Saliba and Timber in the long-term. But that thinking has now shifted again.
Why spend money on someone like Konsa when we have someone in the squad who is more than capable of playing at right back and centre back, and able to be an attacking, overlapping option? That man is Ben White.
In his early days at Arsenal, White played centrally alongside Gabriel. He looked excellent and he is certainly a Premier League level centre back.
As Saliba came into the team, taking us to another level, White moved to right back. For a time he was one of the best right backs in the league and formed a deadly combination going forward with Bukayo Saka. Some would argue that Saka has lost a little since White stopped playing and offering that overlapping option.
So we have a fella who is a proven Premier League right back and centre back. The only issue was he seemingly wanted away. At 29 this would have been his chance to get one big contract and play regularly at the top level for the next 3 or 4 years. But it looks like White may have changed his mind and is no longer a wantawaystar.
Due to his injury, White had a rest this summer and he returned against Girona looking fit and healthy, also captaining the side. And he can see what is ahead of him.
With Saliba out, and Timber having his own injury concerns, White is likely to be our in starting XI come Coventry – either at centre back or at right back. My bet is (based on the Girona line-up), White will start at right back with Cristhian Mosquera inside him.
The decision to keep White will result in us not needing to spend on a new right back come centre back. That in turn leaves more in the cash pot to finance moves for Bruno and Vinicius Jr.
So we keep a top right back who can also play centre back, and make a couple more big money signings. Everyone is happy.
Then come January, if Saliba is fit and White back on the periphery, we may look to sell and replace. Or the likelihood is if we are chasing trophies, White will want to remain part of that and then next summer both parties will explore whether it is in their best interests to call it a day.
For now though, I do not think Ben White is going to leave Arsenal. And I am happy with that.
Keenos