Iconic former Arsenal right-back Lee Dixon has now identified one player at the club who has taken a huge step forward this season.
A number of Arsenal stars have caught the eye this season.
There have been success stories all over the pitch at the Emirates Stadium. For instance, Declan Rice has been a revelation since his arrival in north London, Jakub Kiwior has emerged as an exciting left-back option, and after a difficult start to his Arsenal career Kai Havertz has shone as a striker in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Ben White has recently been in the headlines for his decision to turn his back on international football. Gareth Southgate recently confirmed that White has requested not to be considered for England duty going forward.
The defender’s decision was met with outrage from some quarters. Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp was one to take aim at White, as he launched into a furious rant about the right-back’s decision.
How important is Ben White to Arsenal?
However, this media furore should not detract from what the 26-year-old has achieved on the pitch for the Gunners this season. Mikel Arteta clearly has huge faith in the former Brighton and Hove Albion man, as evidenced by the fact that he starts week in, week out. This belief has been rewarded by consistently impressive performances from the player.
The full-back has not been given an easy job this season, either. As well as being defensively solid, he is expected to get forward at every opportunity, and on top of that, following an injury sustained by Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arteta even tasked White with adopting an inverted role, which he adapted to seamlessly.
Arsenal recently handed White a new long-term contract and there is every reason to think he will be the club’s first-choice pick in that part of the pitch for years to come.
Lee Dixon hails Ben White progress
Lee Dixon is a man who understands what it takes to impress as a right-back for Arsenal. He made 616 appearances for the club in his playing career, winning four league titles, amongst numerous other honours, with the Gunners.
Having seen White converted from a centre-back to a right-back by Arteta at the start of last season, to accommodate for the emergence of William Saliba, Dixon has now given his thoughts on the progress that he has made in his new position.
As quoted by Metro, the 60-year-old said, “playing full-back, your whole game is based on distances between closing down the player you’re playing against – the opposition winger – covering your centre-half as a shield, and also when the team is in possession, you are not necessarily always involved.”
“Especially when the ball is on the left. You have to get your position right to make those runs and get into the game when you get the ball. It’s a funny position. As a central defender or midfielder, you’re in the game all the time in the middle of the pitch.”
“When you play on one side, you can be isolated for a bit and not in the game when your team has the ball. But he has really developed that side of his game. He looks like he enjoys going forward, which he didn’t in the past, it wasn’t natural for him. I think we are seeing the best of him right now and he is playing so well. Playing full-back, the link-up with your winger is key, and him and Bukayo Saka seem to be telepathic at the moment.”