Player Analysis: Ben White

As Mikel Arteta’s rebuilding project continues to take shape, one position some may not have expected to be on Arsenal’s shortlist was a centre-back. During the 2020/21 campaign, the Gunners had the third-best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding 39 goals. Arteta has already signed two centre-backs in Gabriel Magalhães and Pablo Marí whilst also extending Rob Holding’s contract.

Perhaps most crucially, there was the return of William Saliba, who had a fruitful loan season with OGC Nice. However, the Arsenal manager deemed it too early for the Frenchman, and he was instead sent on a third consecutive loan, this time to Marseille. The departure of footballing veteran David Luiz has also meant that Arsenal are now a little light in the defensive department.

Furthermore, the style of play that Arteta is aiming to implement requires centre-backs that are comfortable on the ball, giving an added reason for the Arsenal manager to pursue a new right-sided centre-half, with Holding as his only available option. Numerous names were sound out, from Sevilla’s star, Jules Koundé, to Bayern Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konaté.

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