After missing out on Emi Buendia- beaten to the deal by Aston Villa– Arsenal must secure at least one big deal this summer; it could be the only way to get the fans onside and oversee improvement at the same time. Stan Kroenke certainly didn’t do himself any favours when the Gunners were outbid by Villa for Buendia. It highlighted just how far the mighty have fallen. Now, they must secure Ben White.
On the pitch, their fall from grace was clear for all to see, but many still believed they had the crucial attraction in the transfer market. That attraction seems to be gone, however, as proven by their failure to land the aforementioned Norwich City star. They must prove doubters wrong in the transfer window; Arsenal must endure a summer of successful acquisitions. They simply can’t afford not to.
According to Dharmesh Sheth of Sky Sports, Arsenal have seen their first approach for Ben White knocked back, but they must not give up as they did with Buendia. In White, Brighton have got a top young defender, who has proved in abundance his ability on and off the ball- making him an ideal asset to target for the Gunners.
Arsenal Must Continue Ben White Pursuit Despite Failure With First Bid
Where Would the Deal Leave William Saliba?
You can never have enough quality in one position; every world class side has that problem. And, should Arsenal land Ben White, they’ll have that key depth in the central defender role. Mikel Arteta would have Gabriel, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, Ben White and William Saliba competing for a place.
Admittedly, the options do not seem top four worthy. But the choice of options for Arteta would be crucial. Such is the young age of Saliba and White, if he makes the move, the Arsenal manager will be able to set his sights onto building foundations for the future. Last summer saw Saliba go out on loan without making a single Arsenal appearance. He has since impressed at Nice, leading to shouts for him to start at the Emirates.
If Saliba does arrive and impress, he and target Ben White could form a top partnership. It is just about Arsenal’s willingness to splash the cash- something they undoubtedly need to do if they want to get back into Europe next season.
Ben White Ideal for the Way Arsenal Play
A lot has changed for Arsenal over the years, most of it for the worse. But one thing that hasn’t changed is their style of football. The Gunners still persist with neat and tidy football, attempting to play out from the back. And this suits a player like Ben White perfectly. The 23-year-old is asked to play similar football at Brighton under Graham Potter and also when at Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa.
In Ben White, Arsenal have got a ready made defender to walk straight into their starting 11. The price-tag, above £40 million may seem like a lot for the defender but, when considering his age and ability, it could turn out to be a bargain.
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