Arsenal: 4 things we’d like to see vs Burnley

2. Ben White Setting the Tone

There is no denying that Burnley will be a big test for Ben White, and the fears over him being totally inept in the air have grown in stature off the back of his Brentford display.

Ivan Toney did a number on him that evening as Thomas Frank’s side targetted White in the air, which has given the impression that White will never win an aerial duel ever again.

It’s his weakest attribute, of course. But that doesn’t mean he’s useless at it. This season of the 12 he’s faced he’s come out on top in seven of them for a 58.3% win percentage.

He will face his fair share of long ball bombardments but more importantly on Saturday is how he sets the tone of the attack.

On the ball his qualities are undeniable and the variance in how he progresses play is a tool this Arsenal side are reliant on. Burnley may adopt the approach they did last season and press Arsenal relatively high, in which case there is no other central defender you’d rather have at the club picking up possession deep and finding his man.

Supremely composed, breaking through that press either into the full-backs or through the lines to the midfielders, White will have a huge say in the outcome of this game beyond how he deals with the threat of Chris Wood.

What we’d like to see is him looking nothing like an Arsenal defender. In recent years they haven’t served the club too well.

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