Telegraph: Ben White still hasn’t found his rhythm but no one underestimates the impact he will have

November 23 News This season, Arsenal defender Ben White has not played much time, which has triggered concerns about his future. The Daily Telegraph talks about the situation in England.

Ben White's contract with Arsenal expires in 2028, but he has played very little playing time in the team, which raises delicate questions about his future. Public perception of Ben White often does not match reality. Outside Arsenal circles he is seen as a player who is indifferent to football, has refused to play for England and has publicly stated that he rarely watches football, raising questions about his true passion for the game.

However, the real story is that Ben White is one of the most driven and competitive players in Arsenal's squad. If there was anything wrong with him, it might be that he cared too much. Although he doesn't pay much attention to football outside of the training ground, once he's in the gym or on the pitch, he's all in. Sometimes, this overcommitment works against him. It's fair to say he's paying the price now.

For much of the past four years, Ben White's tenacity and technical ability have made him one of the most important players in Arteta's squad and a regular in the starting XI. In the first three seasons since moving to Arsenal from Brighton for 50 million pounds in 2021, his playing time accounted for 87% of the team's total game time in the Premier League.

The same was true before Ben White joined Arsenal. In the 2020-21 season, he played 36 of Brighton's 38 league games; in the previous season, he played in all 46 Championship games while on loan at Leeds United. Throughout his career, Ben White has almost always been available, and with his quality, he's almost always been available.

So it must be a strange and uncomfortable feeling for Ben White to now be on the fringes of Arteta's squad. Once a regular starter, the 28-year-old has spent much of the season on the bench. He has started just four games in all competitions and just once in the Premier League. He has not even come on as a substitute in the past eight league games.

The reason for this change is obvious, that is Timber's outstanding performance. The Dutchman has been outstanding this season, combining technical prowess, defensive diligence and a bulldog-like aggressiveness with an unparalleled intensity when tackling the ball. It's hard not to sympathize with Ben White, though. He has always fought hard for the club, pushing himself to the limit even when other players in his position were out injured. For example, when Timber missed the 2023-24 season with a knee injury, Ben White made 51 appearances in all competitions. Kenyo Tomiyasu, Arsenal's other right-back option, also missed significant time with recurring injury problems before departing in the summer.

Ben White bears a very heavy physical burden, which may also be due to his own mentality. According to Arteta, Ben White is willing to hide his physical condition in order to play. A year ago, Arteta revealed that the club's physios and medical staff had taken Ben White out of matches to protect him. Finally, in November last year, the club decided to let him undergo knee surgery.

Ben White is now healthy and ready to contribute, but he hasn't had many opportunities this season. His inability to establish a rhythm meant he wasn't able to perform at his best on the court, which set him up for an unfortunate cycle.

If Ben White can maintain rhythm and consistency, he will almost certainly be selected for the England national team, and he is currently available for call-up by Tuchel. At any point in his Arsenal career, he will be one of the defensive leaders Arteta relies on following Gabriel's injury, as has been the case during the recent international break.

This all raises delicate questions about Ben White's future, especially with Arsenal needing to offload players following their huge summer investment. He has two years remaining on his contract after this season. Normally, this is when a club decides whether to extend a player's contract or find a buyer. Arsenal and Ben White both have options at the moment.

However, no one will despise him. A lot can change over the course of a season and Arsenal's 'Fighter' has proven he can be one of the club's most reliable players. So don't underestimate the possibility of him returning to the first-choice squad and making a big impact on Arsenal's trophy hunt.