Arsenal: 3 standout individual performances vs Wolves

Arsenal players knew the importance of this game before they stepped on the pitch. In the mix for top four, every point counts.

Add to that the hilarious defeat Tottenham suffered against Burnley and the opportunity to capitalize was there for all to see. Arsenal have been presented with opportunities like this in the past but have rarely, if ever, capitalized on them.

Thursday’s game, however, was a different story.

Although the goal conceded was silly with the team stumbling out of the blocks, once they settled a bit they showed a grit which hasn’t been seen enough in past seasons.

Arsenal 2-1 Wolves: 3 standout individual performances from Mikel Arteta’s team in crucial Premier League win

Heads never dropped and neither did the attacks. Both would be useful as the team won deep into injury time.

While the team’s fighting spirit and commitment will catch headlines, the performances of individual players should not be forgotten in the praise of the collective.

Here are three standout players from Arsenal’s massive win against Wolves.

3. Benjamin White

On a night where the entire backline looked shaky, Benjamin White was anything but. The man exudes confidence.

A defender’s ideal scenario is to play against a team slow in possession that plays in front of them. Against Wolves, the Arsenal defense had a tough opponent. Quick on the break, with intelligent forward players making intelligent runs, it can be easy for defenders to be exposed, especially in the chaos of an open, back-and-forth game.

White was not perturbed by the challenges he faced against Wolves. He anchored the backline superbly. Instead of waiting for the pass from Neves or Moutinho to be played into the front players before pressuring, White took a more proactive approach. He nicked in quickly, rarely giving opposition players time to settle and turn.

This proactive approach can often be a double-edged sword. All it takes is one drop of the shoulder, one body feint or one tidy turn for attackers to spin their man and either draw a potential yellow card foul or sprint full speed, bearing down on goal. White’s level dictated every engagement and no player got the better of him. Rarely giving away a foul, he made interception after interception, even matching the sh*thousery that the visitors put on.

On the offensive side, he looked as relaxed as ever on the ball. He drove forward a few times, made several incisive passes and forced the issue with some attempts over the top. While the more difficult balls didn’t always come off, his performance as a whole was remarkable. He has the potential to anchor this defense for years and to do it at a level we haven’t seen in years.

Whisper it softly, but I think White might just be a bit better than Sokratis.

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