Former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville has now compared one Arsenal player to two Chelsea legends.
Ben White has enjoyed an excellent campaign in an Arsenal shirt.
The right-back has had to play a lot of football this season. Injuries to the likes of Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu have forced White to have to play, even when he has been in pain at times himself.
White has been described as a “warrior” by his Arsenal teammates. He is far more than just a solid and durable defender, though. He is also a hugely important part of how Mikel Arteta’s side build their attacks.
The full-back shares a brilliant on-field connection with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, and gets forward constantly up the right flank to involve himself in intricate passing moves and create space with overlapping runs.
The 26-year-old has even chipped in with four Premier League goals this season. Most recently he bagged a brace against Chelsea.
Arsenal handed White a new contract earlier this season, as a reward for his massive contribution to the North London club’s cause.
Gary Neville compares Arsenal star Ben White to Chelsea icons
Gary Neville has recognised White’s impressive form, and has included the Arsenal man in his personal picks for a Premier League team of the season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the pundit admitted that he originally has some doubts that the player could succeed as a right-back, having initially joined Arsenal as a centre-back from Brighton in a £50 million switch in the summer of 2021.
Neville said: “I wasn’t sure about him, I’ll be honest. Is he half a right-back & half a centre-back? That was my view, I wasn’t sure what he was. He’s developed into a really, really good right-back. I think of him now in the same quality this season, as [Branislav] Ivanovic & [Cesar] Azpilicueta for Chelsea for many years in that position. He deserves to be in [my team of the season].”
Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta are both Chelsea icons, and right-backs who enjoyed great success in their time at Stamford Bridge.
Of course, White is yet to come close to matching either of that Blues duo’s achievements when it comes to silverware won, but like both Ivanovic and Azpilicueta, the Arsenal ace makes his presence felt at both ends of the pitch and is a totally reliable defender.
Ben White shines despite being in unwanted limelight
What makes White’s recent performances even more impressive is that he’s had to deal with unwanted attention off the pitch, too. White came in for heavy criticism in the media after his recent decision to withdraw from international duty.
Despite the headlines and limelight, White has shone for the Gunners week in, week out, which is testament to his mental strength.