Arsenal star Ben White has returned to his best form since the Winter break, and is now performing in a different role to before.
Injuries to Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu meant that Jakub Kiwior had to step in at left-back, and after initially struggling in an inverted role, Mikel Arteta tweaked his tactics to solve the issue.
This saw White change his role at right-back to start tucking into midfield, allowing Kiwior to stay wide, and this has meant both players are now thriving.
White’s intelligence and tactical versatility have allowed this to happen, and the 26-year-old’s presence in the squad is a major advantage for Arteta.
Ben White’s intelligence is of huge benefit to Arsenal
Speaking on the Handbrake Off Podcast, journalist Art De Roche highlighted White as a particularly useful player, given his ability to learn different roles with ease.
“I remember in his first season at the club, and the All Or Nothing documentary was on, and he had a meeting with Carlos Cuesta. He said his biggest strength was his ability to learn, and I think we’ve seen that every year he’s been at the club,” he stated of White.
“Obviously he’s made it well known that it is a job to him, but I think he probably lets on a bit more than there actually is with that, because you see he actually does have a personality, and I reckon he does enjoy it quite a bit.
“He doesn’t just do one thing, he’s able to go round Saka, he’s able to come inside as well. I think having someone as multifunctional as him is a major benefit.”
How Ben White has helped other Arsenal players thrive
In addition to helping support Kiwior’s introduction to the team, White has also helped Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side.
The winger is in some of the best form of his career, and White has supported him on the right in more ways than one.
In White’s previous role, he would overlap and provide a crossing option for Saka. Now he is inverting, he offers another passing option when Saka cuts inside, whilst also creating more space for him as teams may no longer be able to mark him with three players.
White’s experience under Marcelo Bielsa has been hailed as a crucial factor in helping him develop into the player he is today, but his ability to learn and adapt quickly makes him a dream player for a manager like Arteta.