Tomorrow.
There is only one starting point this morning and that is the fact that Ben White has signed a new contract with the club. It is not a surprise, he has been preparing for it for some time and it is simply a reward for the quality and consistency of his performances. Mikel Arteta says:
Ben is a key player for us, a great professional with a winning mentality and one who sets an example every day. Ben’s ability, determination and positive attitude are very important, but he is also a great character and human being. We all look forward to continuing to work with Ben in the years to come.
As the beautiful Benjamin, with his golden thighs casting a warm glow in the contract signing room at London Colney, said:
I’m very happy: it’s been a long journey and it’s wonderful to sign again and be here for more years. I’ve said before that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, so it’s perfect.
Arsenal’s contract management has not always been brilliant, it is fair to say, but with this combination of a stable environment and a truly competitive squad, we have found it much easier to secure the future of our best players. Ben White comes after Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba, Gabriel and Martin Odegaard all committed to new terms, and there is a bit of a snowball effect at play as well. When you see those guys making it clear that Arsenal is the ideal place for them, why would you consider going anywhere else?
I am, as I have made clear more than once, a big fan of Ben White. Like most people, I raised an eyebrow when we paid £50m for it in the summer of 2021, but the price is now basically an afterthought. Still, on that difficult first night with that match against Brentford, the high-profile pundits who really should know better immediately pulled out their knives.
His development as one of the Premier League’s best right-backs has been a surprise, but I think you could put him anywhere and get at least a 7/10 out of him. He is such a solid player. You already know what you are going to give him with it. Consistency, reliability and will to win that, perhaps, are at odds with the way people perceive it. The combination between his lack of interest in football outside of his job and his lack of seriousness in what he does completely misses the point. You just have to watch him play to understand that, and if he doesn’t fit the “norms” of how most fans think about football, that’s a problem for them, not him.
People often talk about the Arsenal trio of William Saliba, Gabriel and Declan Rice as a kind of platform for what we do, and that’s obviously true. However, I think in some ways it does a disservice to Ben White. Check out the appearances and minutes this season:
William Saliba – 39 appearances, 3,422 minutes Gabriel – 40 appearances, 3,282 minutes Declan Rice – 39 appearances, 3,261 minutes Ben White – 39 appearances, 3,048 minutes
That trio is amazing, but when we talk about them, it should be a quartet. Ben White is the fourth musketeer, our handsome and defensive D’Artagnan. With injuries to Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu this season, he has carried the load at right back on his own, with only a few minutes to spare when we have crushed another team by five or six, and there is no danger in putting in someone like Cedric.
For the rest, you all already know. A brilliant footballer, someone who can combine both attacking threat and defensive solidity with the kind of strength and stamina that would make oxen jealous. He can score, he’s providing assists right now and he combines that with a kind of unique character in the modern game. The post-match interviews, the bad words, the malicious smile, the jokes he has with his teammates and the rival, it is impossible not to love him.
As for the England stuff, The Athletic has a good explanation here (£). I think he’s very happy not to be involved, and that should be it. Of course, Gareth Southgate knows why, and everyone knows Gareth Southgate knows why, but ultimately it’s to Arsenal’s benefit. While Saka and Rice leave for more minutes, Ben White will stay back, get a tan and be fresh and ready for our game against Man City. I don’t think the England manager has done him any favors with his comments, but he really is a storm in a teacup, and my suspicion is that he barely registers on Ben White’s importance meter.
So it’s good news, and many years of success lie ahead for him and Arsenal.
The other thing today is the Champions League draw, which will take place around this afternoon after what will seem like hours of tedious and stupid nonsense from UEFA. It’s an open draw, so we’ll have one from Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, Manch115ter City, Borussia Dortmund and Atlético de Madrid. I’m ABC here, anyone but City, and I’d probably like one of Bayern or Barcelona, just to have that revenge narrative after the pain they’ve inflicted on us over the years. Which is not to take anything for granted, but we owe them and I think that is within the capabilities of this team.
Let’s see what happens, we’ll post the giveaway on Arseblog News and we’ll also have a post-giveaway podcast for you at some point.
For now, have a good Friday.
