Journalist Rory Smith has recalled one remarkable thing he saw Arsenal star Ben White do when he was playing for Leeds United.
Prior to his move to Arsenal from Brighton and Hove Albion, Ben White spent a season on loan with Leeds United.
The defender spent the 2019/20 season at Elland Road, whilst the Yorkshire outfit were in the Championship. He played every minute of league football for Marcelo Bielsa’s side throughout that campaign, as Leeds earned promotion to the Premier League as Championship title winners.
White was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year at the end of that season and made a huge impression during his stint with the club.
Mikel Arteta has felt the benefits of the 26-year-old’s time with Leeds this season. The Spanish coach recently tweaked the right-back’s tactical role in the Arsenal team, asking him to play in a more inverted fashion, which sees him now habitually drift into the middle of the park. The player has adapted to these instructions seamlessly. Arteta has been told he has Bielsa to thank for White’s ability to do this, as the Argentine coach often made the Arsenal man train as a midfielder in his time at Elland Road.
How Ben White caught the eye at Leeds
Rory Smith has now reflected upon one memorable feat he saw White perform for Leeds. Speaking on the BBC’s Monday Night Club, the reporter said, “my most impressive Ben White moment, I remember going to see Leeds in the year they got promoted, and it was at the end of the season in the bit after Covid. The stadium was empty, it was when Bielsa was at Leeds and Ben White started the game at centre half.”
“Can’t remember who Leeds were playing but I think they had to win to get within two points of promotion or something. He started at centre half and it wasn’t really working in attack so Bielsa started changing it.”
“There was a five minute period where Ben White had to play in four different positions and you could hear what Bielsa was shouting at him. After a while he looked completely non plussed, had no idea where he was meant to be but did as he was told and every time in the two minutes in which he had the ball he looked completely comfortable wherever he sent him.”
Arsenal now need to rally around Ben White
White has been in the headlines in recent weeks. Gareth Southgate recently revealed that White has asked to be excluded from international duty with England.
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp took issue with the Arsenal man’s decision. White was also heavily criticised by talkSPORT pundits for his course of action.
Arsenal and Arteta will be supportive of White, and have recently awarded him a new contract. He is a fan-favourite at the Emirates Stadium, and he will receive support from the stands too. White has been hailed by his Arsenal teammates for having a “warrior” mentality, which he will need to weather this media storm.