What does the Ben White news mean for Arsenal?

Ben White has been nothing short of sensational since he joined Arsenal.

He has transformed the way the team plays out from the back, offering technical security, impressive passing and pace into what was an ageing back line. Last year was crucial for the rebuild. Mikel Arteta has slowly changed the team into a more progressive and front-footed outfit. Ben White has received much praise for his contribution to this transformation.

His defensive work deserves more recognition as he always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

This season, he has shown a new facet of his game: versatility. With William Saliba finally breaking into the first team and Takehiro Tomiyasu struggling with injury at the start of the season, White was pushed out to right back. He has done nothing but impress in a new position with fresh roles and responsibilities. No matter where he lines up, the Englishman offers defensive solidity and has developed a new-found attacking potency.

White’s stellar form earned him a call-up to England’s World Cup squad, but his time with the national team in Qatar has been cut short.

What does the Ben White news mean for Arsenal?

Arsenal and the English FA released an update on Wednesday, saying that White has withdrawn from the squad and “returned home for personal reasons.” While the natural centre-back was always looking on the outside looking in (in regards to the national team), it seemed as if he was finally set to get the recognition he deserves. Initially relegated to the bench, there was still hope that he could get minutes on the world’s biggest stage. This most recent news, however, is concerning.

First and foremost, all fans hope the player and his family and loved ones are safe and healthy. The focus of this article, however, is on the footballing implications of White’s withdrawal from the squad, assuming this may potentially scupper his return to the Arsenal team. While White has stood in admirably on the right of the backline, Tomiyasu is no slouch. The Japanese international is nursing his own niggles but considering he is still playing in the World Cup (albeit with the medical team restricting his minutes), there is hope that he could be back to full fitness soon.

With Saliba’s dominant performances at right centre-back and Gabriel’s prowess on display next to him, White’s potential absence will not affect the spine of the team as drastically as it did last year. Arteta has added quality in the starting XI as well as on the substitutes’ bench. Whatever Ben White is facing, he has the full support of the club behind him.