Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

3 underrated players in derby day win against Tottenham

By Krish Ajmani

Arsenal players celebrate after Arsenal's Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey scored his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 1, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal players celebrate after Arsenal's Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey scored his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 1, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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2. Ben White

Ben White produced another solid performance at right-back. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Ben White produced another solid performance at right-back. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

White has slotted into an unfamiliar position with unfamiliar responsibilities and has been exceptional. His athletic prowess allows him to cover defensive channels with ease and his comfort on the ball means he is an integral part of how Arsenal play.

Spurs sought to break with speed but facing White in transition was a mountain they could not climb. On the ball, he continues to do what he did as a centre-back. He passes across the back line and into midfield, striding forward and finding forward players with pinpoint passes from defence. Although he has added crosses to his arsenal (pun fully intended), it’s his work off the ball in attack that stood out against Tottenham.

The centre-back has been overlapping increasingly over the past few weeks but this facet of his game was most effective on Saturday. He doesn’t merely sprint down the outside of Saka every time the winger has the ball; he chooses his moments with great intelligence, proving all the more unsettling to an otherwise settled block.

His overlap led to space for Saka’s shot and the subsequent goal. The forward also slid him in on occasion, allowing him to fire in crosses. While William Saliba has caught the eye for his monstrous performances, White’s showings have been just as, if not more, influential.

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