His Overlapping play is brilliant isn't it? Love his link up with Saka

Being isolated against the wingers 1-1 is the toughest place to be. Sometimes you'll end up looking bad no matter how good of a defender you are because offensive player always dictates the play. I feel fine with White defending those situations. Can't say the same about Zinhcenko on the other side.

A few weeks ago, when Arteta benched Ben White for Tomiyasu, he said he is someone who doesn't talk much, especially when something is wrong with him. Even when he is asked, he denies and plays things down, so Arteta will take him off the spotlight when Arteta sees that he's going through something. Then, Tomiyasu got injured, so here we are.

I think his all-around game more than makes up for getting beat every now and then by literally some of the best athletes on Earth - athletes who play where they do because they specialize in that specific 1v1 situation. He's above average in all aspects and super reliable/consistent. Can't ask for much more.

I have said this about White for a long time that he isn't particularly good 1 vs 1.He isn't particularly slow, but he isn't particularly fast either, but its not just about that, he doesn't defend aggressively/ with high enough intensity 1 vs 1. Against most attackers his level of defending is fine, its just against some of the absolute flyers he can struggle. However he makes up for this weakness in all other aspects of his game he is a consistent 8/10. I think he is a fantastic player for Arsenal, he just probably won't be that elite level of defender the likes of Lauren, Campbell, Adams - and probably eventually Saliba.

I see a lot of people say his other qualities make up for his defensive issues, but we also have this problem with Zinchenko. Having two fullbacks that aren't good 1v1 is not ok. We need at least one fullback strong in this situation. The sooner we get Timber back, the better. And personally, a fully fit Tomiyasu and Timber play in our back 4.

It's not just Ben White, its most of our defenders that have had this 1v1 problem in the 10 - 15 years. The only player I can remember that was really good in 1v1 defending within this period is Sagna. The rest of them always struggled in that situation. Maybe if Tomiyasu can stay injury free for at least 10 games then I think he could be another that player that can be good in 1v1s

In the Brighton game, Mitoma was ripping him down the left and they were feeding ball after ball to pick on White. Gabriel and Rice had to cover for him quite a few times. Something isn’t right with Ben and i hope he gets it sorted soon. This can be very problematic in tight games as we try to stay top of the league. And then there’s Zinny giving away the ball at least 3 times per game. We need tomi back and add some depth to the squad in Jan

I think it's unfair to criticise him in the ross barkley scenario. He may back off a slight bit too much, but the leg he outstretches before he shoots likely covers a goal at raya's far post. He expects raya to have the rest of the goal covered and essentially, although he should be blocking the shot completely, its harsh to put much blame on him.

Always love these deep dives, your videos make everything easier to understand and think about. Great stuff!

I think there is some recency bias as he's looked a bit more defensively frail in the few games since he's been back, but over the course of last season there weren't many situation where he was defensively poor. Although I do see that hes not perfect and him improving on this would make him that much better :)

Thanks for this video. I was thinking of this soooo long and therefore thought (wrongly) that White was overrated because nobody ever mentioned his 1v1 ,,problems" ( or to use the word of the channel: region of growth/growth potential) , sometimes even people told me how on earth I could think there was any problem in the first place. And in some games it wasn`t even mentioned, I think sometimes he is somewhat late too (like against Villa) After the video I feel a little bit confirmed and in the same time I am more at peace with it , thanks!

i own your jumper. Well not your jumper that would be weird but the same jumper. It's just the right amount of knitwear.

Beautiful analysis mate. There’s so many great players to love in our team. How we’ve longed for this time. Let’s enjoy it gunners x

The beige channel icon was very distinctive in my recommended so i always knew it was one of your videos, the new one is nice but maybe recognisability should also be considered!

❤️ this, great points all around, keep it up!

alex! High quality vid with the pro info! Bravo!

This debate feels quite forced, almost like it's a slow content week 🤔 Come on, White is one of our most consistent and dependable performers. How many wingers have truly got the better of him since the start of last season?

I think he’ll improve this and the coaches will already know what’s needed. Games coming thick and fast mean there is little time to work on detail but the winter break and next international break will help

Great analysis. Harry is right that the most important thing is to take charge and in our back line I think Saliba is the only who does that. If you're going to get roasted, you might as well get roasted on your own terms i.e. Saliba against Elye Wahi. The thinking being is that if you back off you give the attacker more time to think, more time to get support and sustain the attack. I tend to think rushing the attacker yields greater results provided you are not the last man.

I love White, especially because of his attitude, he's got a bit of an edge to him but it never seems to get him in trouble.

Prime Kyle Walker fits that scout description

I would say that it's really just his fitness levels right now. Aside from Saliba, Gabriel and Saka, White arguably has been our mainstay on the right. Having to run up and down and still be defensively great is not an easy job to maintain. Also, why haven't we had a double down on any of the wingers like other teams are doing on us?

I see everything you said not just with Ben, but nearly every Arsenal players in every game when they go 1v1. It’s like they were trained to wait for the attacker to move first, then engage. A lot of times it’s too late but there would be another player sweeping after. It’s just a bit frustrating watching this sometimes. 🤯

I personally feel you have hit the mail million times my Partner would attest to this said it so many time🤞🏼

Having mot watched the video yet, I've been saying it has been. He jockeys players into the box and acts as a cone for them to score around. But I do really like him

You thumbnails are really beautiful and so so crisp...🫡

Brilliant as usual

It 's only an issue when on counter attack, so he must learn how to best close the opp player till CB and DM return in front of opp central players

Ben White is basically the modern William Gallas, he wants to play in the centre but also wants to go forward. Arteta has correctly moved him back to the right so he can go forward more often without affecting the defensive structure. In terms of thinking process on how to defend well, I sometimes feel that a simpler defender will usually think much more straight forward kick and clear, but Ben White together with Saliba and Zinchenko are required to do much more than just defend, sometimes you need a team mix with smart and straight forward defenders (like Gabriel). Tony Adams was the smart defender and Keown was the straight forward one and they basically cover for each others weaknesses and improve their strengths. The advantages of more straightforward defending is often faster reaction times, but you'll often lose control of the ball due to lack of awareness. The way I play defence is more straightforward as I will put all my energy into stealing the ball, but that means once i've taken it, i'll have a harder time figuring out what to do with the ball, defenders no longer hoof the ball across the pitch nowadays so it makes sense they need to spend more mental energy keeping the ball under control.

I’d like to see Saka give the ball back BW a few more times. They set it up for a give and go but don’t complete the action enough. I think this would be more affective for the team in getting crosses in and help Saka when he cuts inward.

I‘ve always wondered whether Ben White could do the John Stones role. He‘s experienced at CB and at inverting into midfield. That would solve the problem if Saliba or Tomi would shift out wide, but I think it‘s questionable whether White is good enough on the ball to play as a second pivot

White isn’t naturally the quickest and gets outpaced in short distance quite often if not mistaken. Also, I think his off field issues are quite well known given his recent story with the England NT. So yeah, not sure if he is that unique. Believe Stones can do everything he can realistically.

You said it in your intro, he's pre peak. It will come.

What’s also not being accounted for maybe this is designed by arteta for Ben to not be overly aggressive 1v1 especially as he has Saliba in the back. I would be interested to see how he’s 1v1 leads to goals conceded that way we can really see if it’s an issue.

Ben White could be our John Stones in midfield

U hit the nail on the head without even you knowing… Ben white was a ball carrier, Rice was a ball carrier, saliba was a ball carrier and so on… all these player have changed their style of play to adapt to mikel ball. Sometimes play players to their strengths and stop crossing balls in for messi to score with his head….

finally someone is talking about this

😞😢I m his fan always how the situation is gone. No one can perfect. If he is poor Arsenal can use cedric and wait for tomi. If you sell ben white He is moved another team I m always benwhite fan

Great video benny blanco defo is a fav

Come for the analysis, stay for the relationship advice

I’m not sure which channel it was but they pointed out how Gabriel does not dive in and was applauded for it. It’s the same thing white does, make the defender beat you, if whites jump in in, he’s making it easier for the attacker. Just some observation

Wilfried Singo, has the athleticism and frame, 6 ft 3 has everything that white has and more

Im a former skilful defender so Ben resonates with me and I love Ben - definitely Arsenals most under rated player ( well Partey is too but that’s a different conversation ) - been amazing / but recently this season I’ve noticed he is always a bit too far away from the attacker in the box - almost encouraging a shot - the space gives the attacker confidence to take a touch instead of committing he doesn’t close the space and literally makes the attackers mind up for him - I would coach him to improve this in the box particularly - but having said all this I wouldn’t take £100m for him !!

Finally someone has noticed it.

Ben White last season forms was so Superb. But this particular season he's struggling with fitness and sharpness now he's inconsistencies performance and his Positioning by backing off and bringing opposition players to sensitive part's of the final thirds. Needs to be addressed. He makes so much Space markings between him and the opposition's players

I know this is off topic of the video but I'm kind of excited about this.arsenal have made a decision to permanently sign raya from Brentford and have done this early (being a strange decision to make half way through the loan given the ffp circumstances)why would they do this?we can't sign raya on loan and Ivan toney aswell on loan from Brentford due to PL rules so signing raya permanently would be the best thing to do to maximise things in our favour.any thoughts anyone? My thoughts are we've decided to sign raya permanently for £27 then sign toney on loan in January to comply with the rules of loan signings and ffp as toney would be a higher fee than raya.maybe wrong but we've already decided to activate buying raya just a hunch coyg ❤

What do you think on the really nice game from Ramsdale?

"You can see this in the situation against Barkley..." Can you? Because in the image shown, he's on the balls of his feet.

The attacking from the right side improves when when tomiyasu plays as he doesn't kill the momentum of the attack by being on his heels as white does all the time. I love tomiyasu. Get well soon.

Tomi = ben white + solid defending but sadly he got injured

His defending 1v1 against the better wingers is where he falls short, someone like Timber playing in that role would be better with Ben White acting as quality rotation to him Edit: if we had that depth at RB we would be unreal in terms of defensive depth over the right flank, White going forward has no issues to me, defensively it’s mostly 1v1s: he often hesitates in his interception attempts not really judging correctly when & where to make the tackle, something that Timber flourishes at, they would compliment eachother very well & sharpen eachother aswell

We need strong competition for him. Tomiyasu is backup for 3 position (LB,RB,CB,) and starter in 2(RB,LB).. too much to as of him.

Ben’s problem as you said is he engages quite late. He gives the players opportunities to drive in to the box and focus on block the shots which is not good against good players.

He’s a cb by nature he’s just been shifted to rb but his attacking style makes us so good but I think timber is a natural rb so maybe in big games he’ll start over white

I will hear no Ben White slander. Thank you for your time, have a lovely evening.

I'm more concerned about Zinchenko's defending to be honest

You doubters can all hold that😅

Arsenal is full off Swiss army knife kind of players White Zini Tomi Timber they can play in 3 different positions at the highest levels

I think he's playing injured. Dead serious. I remember when he got subbed on for tomiyasu when he got hurt they panned to him on the bench and he said f*ck.

Very decent player. In essence he's a midfielder playing at the back.

In the UCL level, theres no room for mistakes. Yeah, you can accept and work in PL, but if the club wants higher flights, fans have to learn to = let got

I think it's important that Ben White is not isolated,he needs help from teammates

Yeah he is good but sometimes he freezes and doesn’t do anything. We can see sometimes that he is exhausted and slows the game even we are 1 goal down in a second half.

Timber can play this rb hybrid when he's back

#Bring back the knock

He needs to start backing up

he's really a midfielder if we're being real

hes shocking 1v1

Do you think Ben White could play as a 6 alongside Declan? In like a 244/2413 formation?

Joules Kounde could meet that checklist

Benny white white white , my favourite player. COYG

Its quite simple. If Rashford can score on you, then you must have a problem. But he did not struggle like Kiwior on Tuesday either.

Love White but are we sure there are "no off-field issues"? Did we ever figure out what happened between him and the England national team exactly?

timber might be the only player cloee enough to whites profile without being home grown and the league experience

he just give so much space for the challenger and is afraid to make the tackle, if he becomes more assertive he improve massivley. this is something he can work on, its not a hard skill to obtain.

Ben White made the mistake that allowed Ross Barkley's goal in the Luton match. Ben White was the one who couldn't shut down McGinn during the Villa match. Is his defending a problem? Nah, the entire team is to blame when they give up goals. Ben White shouldn't have had to make those defensive moves anyway because the team shouldn't have let the opposition have the ball in the first place.

Sergio Ramos is the only name that I could even think of.

Mikel Arteta certified inverted defending

It's not a problem, he's young and still learning, and he's brilliant in attacking situations and has been a great defender in the past two seasons. But i get that you need content and make videos about something, and i took the bate and watched it despite knowing that so I'm not dissing you. ❤

BENNY BLANCO FROM BRIGHTON BOSSING UP THE BARCLAYS

All Hail the Almighty Algorithm 🔥☯

pretty sure he’s playing on an injury but is needed because tomi is out

I watch for the content but stay for the hypotheticals

BENJAMIN BLANCO

He can’t defend 1 on 1. It’s so easy to run past him. I think Arteta acknowledged this and started playing tomi but he got injured. Timber was probably going to be the starting rb

1000 - an issue, 1300 - not an issue. That's not marginal it's a big majority.

I am so early my comments and likes change the digits

arsenal fans india kerala🇮🇳

Can you imagine him come up against Mbappe in champions league? … surely means an exit for Arsenal 😢

Kyle Walker

Rob holding was way better. White should of gone to Palace instead!

not to sound flippant but i think he's rusty. Afterall, he is quite good at football

There's a reason why the Leeds, Newport County and Peterborough Utd reject Ben White was Brightons 5th choice CB is Englands 24th choice defender. This was clearly shown last April when Brightons Mitoma absolutely ruined him for 90 mins that caused him to receive ongoing counselling and why 50,000 Arsenal fans left the Emirates Staduium on 63 minutes all in disbelief that the club somehow paid 50m quid for him...

John stones could do what Ben white does and more.

Hes good but world class is a stretch 😂

He gets cooked by rashford every single time

A fully fits Takeiero Tomiyasu is far better and Reliable than Ben White and Zinchenko

He should study Walker/AWB to improve as RB

can't we just have fullbacks that are actually fullbacks?