Gabriel has been unreal this season. Both in attack and defence. They form a good partnership.
Ben White | Arsenal
- Thread starter bond19821982
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When he got turned inside out at the start of the season he got a lot of stick. From watching him at Leeds in the Championship you could tell he was levels above. He stood out alot due to his ability on the ball and I always said he just needed to improve his actual defending. Brighton for the season was perfect as they played football but he was always under pressure due to there open style and being a mid table side.
Ben certainly looks good so far but I want to see him against Liverpool when yous are actually on the back foot.
I remember Chelsea being linked with him a couple of windows ago, I think we opted for Thiago Silva on a free instead, but yeah, I was excited by the idea of Gabriel at Chelsea back then, and I'm not surprised in the slightest that he's been one of Arsenal's best signings in recent years.
Varane has been really good for us though. He will walk back into a shit show of a team of course unless something changes soon
Not going to get into any Varane comparisons, but White has been excellent this season and a big part of our improved play. I think his defending is actually quite good - a little light in the box but he is excellent in space.
His ball skills are just next level though. People always talk about ball playing defenders but he is really both a ball playing and ball carrying defender in a pretty unusual way. He has the ability to break lines by carrying the ball up the pitch at speed, ghosting past the first and sometimes second line of defense and then fairly reliably making the right decision on when and where to release the ball. This really causes problems for midblock pressing schemes, which are often set up to block passing lanes not dribbling lanes. He can take a situation in which the ball is on our side of the halfway line and the other team is very comfortably settled in their defensive shape and quickly transform it into a situation in which the ball is coming into the final third at pace in a way that has the opponent scrambling to adjust. I think its a pretty valuable skill, arguably more important than the ability to ping a long diagonal (which he can also do).
He has to show this level consistently over the course of the season but if he does then he really should enter the conversation for a starting place with England.
His ball skills are just next level though. People always talk about ball playing defenders but he is really both a ball playing and ball carrying defender in a pretty unusual way. He has the ability to break lines by carrying the ball up the pitch at speed, ghosting past the first and sometimes second line of defense and then fairly reliably making the right decision on when and where to release the ball. This really causes problems for midblock pressing schemes, which are often set up to block passing lanes not dribbling lanes. He can take a situation in which the ball is on our side of the halfway line and the other team is very comfortably settled in their defensive shape and quickly transform it into a situation in which the ball is coming into the final third at pace in a way that has the opponent scrambling to adjust. I think its a pretty valuable skill, arguably more important than the ability to ping a long diagonal (which he can also do).
He has to show this level consistently over the course of the season but if he does then he really should enter the conversation for a starting place with England.
Still pretty shaky , and I still don't think he has the physicality to be a top defensive center back but he has been great for them and still has potential to be even better something which i didn't see myself saying several months ago.
Don't think he's shaky at all tbh. He's had a couple bad games but been good in every other one.
Surprisingly I think he actually is fine physically. His heading is fine tbh although I was worried after the first game, and he holds his own against 95% of attackers.
I still feel he can be bullied a perception which isn't helped by his scrawny physique. But agreed his heading has been surprisingly good.
loves himself
What he does in private is his business.
He seems to be a bit of a twat who thinks he’s much better than he actually is.
Don't trust a footballer that doesn't like nor watch any football. I'm out.
I think he's been good and should be looking to stake a claim for starting for England. Probably been England's most consistent centre back.
He has been really good. He’s absolutely miles ahead of Maguire and Mings.
Bang average. They spent 50m on this guy and got worse defensively.
Loves himself
Glad it's drummed home.
Did anyone mentioned that he clearly values himself?
Isn't returning from an injury?
Yes. I personally think he's been pretty good all season. Think people have to also bare in mind that it's his first season, too.
Regardless of the individual players' performance, it's very funny that Arsenal spent like 100m on defensive players and have conceded more goals than last season.
loves Ben White
Has a poster of Ben White on his bedroom ceiling
Worships the ground he walks on.
To be fair it must be hard defending in a team that has played such expansive attacking football.
Oh wait…
To replicate with success that playing style in the Premier League you have two options: fast, physical/asthmatic players like Liverpool or infinite funds to bring top players like Man City. The catalan game with normal players could end in a disaster similar to Leeds.
White or Burn?
Sunbed king.
Weird specimen.
"A year ago we were all younger."
Ben White, 2024, Sky Sports News.
Ben White, 2024, Sky Sports News.
Ben White: Ages Annually
Finally showing the game understanding Bielsa taught him.
Page 12 of this thread is a goldmine for Arsenal fans. 
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...and-arsenal-southgate-squad-why-b2512680.html
What's his deal? Is he an example of a player who only plays for money?
Is the money national team football offers compared to club simply not worth it for the time and effort and being able to take breaks during the season when international break is on.
Some people are saying he had fallen out with Southgate or Holland or someone but he doesn't seem the type to have falling outs. Going by some of White's comments in the past he probably just wouldn't care for international football.
I actually thought more players would be like this these days since club football pays way more than playing for the national team but he seems to be the first example.
What's his deal? Is he an example of a player who only plays for money?
Is the money national team football offers compared to club simply not worth it for the time and effort and being able to take breaks during the season when international break is on.
Some people are saying he had fallen out with Southgate or Holland or someone but he doesn't seem the type to have falling outs. Going by some of White's comments in the past he probably just wouldn't care for international football.
I actually thought more players would be like this these days since club football pays way more than playing for the national team but he seems to be the first example.
After whatever happened in Qatar he obviously doesn't want to be included in the squad anymore. I highly doubt it has anything to do with money.