Former Arsenal defender Lauren has singled out one of Mikel Arteta’s signings for huge praise.
Arsenal face a season-defining clash against Everton today as they bid to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta’s side need all three points at the Emirates Stadium while also relying on City to slip up at home to West Ham.
Many expect Pep Guardiola’s men to get the job done but Arsenal will retain some hope of a surprise on the final day of the season.
With that being said, Arsenal will have plenty of positives to take from the current campaign even if they do miss out on the title.
The Gunners have been exceptional since the turn of the year and a huge amount of credit must go to their formidable backline.
Indeed, Arsenal have conceded just 28 times in 37 games this season, with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes earning plenty of praise along the way. But Lauren was keen to point out Ben White’s performances at right-back.
Lauren says Ben White has been ‘transformed’ at Arsenal
White has made the right-back spot his own after being moved to the position at the start of last season.
The switch was largely down to Saliba and Gabriel’s brilliant partnership but it has also benefitted White massively.
Despite playing through an injury for the majority of the current campaign, the Englishman has missed just one Premier League game over the past nine months.
Speaking to The Athletic, Lauren lauded White’s partnership with Bukayo Saka down the right-hand side
“I have to mention Ben White as right back. I am a big supporter of him,” the former Arsenal man said. “I know how it feels to be in a different position and then adapt to become a full-back. First of all, it is not easy to change your way of playing, to be a centre-back and then evolve into a right-back. The role is different.
“White understands the concepts of defending and has transformed himself. Once he had passed that test, he has been wonderful this season.
“He is very comfortable with the ball, you know he won’t waste it, he will always make the right decision. He can drop to become an extra centre-back if the left defender pushes up.
“When he goes forward he has that superb connection with Bukayo Saka. I love him. As for the mental side of the game, that decision he made to leave the national team makes him even stronger mentally.”
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White is Arsenal’s unsung hero
Understandably, Saliba and Gabriel have earned their fair share of plaudits over the course of the campaign.
But White has been ever-present at right-back and it’s difficult to remember a game where the £50 million Englishman dropped below the required standard.
His consistency has been key to the Gunners’ impressive campaign and according to Sofascore, his average rating for the season stands at 7.27 heading into the final game.
White has also provided for Arsenal in the final third, despite starting his career at the Emirates as a centre-back. The 26-year-old has had a hand in nine goals in 50 appearances in all competitions this season.