Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has lauded Ben White after bouncing back from a difficult Gunners debut to become a mainstay of the club’s defence.
The north Londoners brought the 24-year-old to the Emirates Stadium last summer for a reported £50million.
However, White struggled in his Arsenal bow as the Gunners fell to a 2-0 defeat at Brentford back in August.
Ivan Toney gave the England international a hard time and some questioned whether he was worth £50million.
Now, White is an integral part of the Arsenal back-line and has a superb centre-back partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes.
No Arsenal player has started more games this season than the former Brighton man.
White has played his part in securing 11 clean sheets in the Premier League this term.
Now, Arsenal will face the Bees at the Emirates Stadium, hoping to make amends for that season-opening loss.
“He does it like the best”
Arteta reflected on White’s development over the course of the campaign.
“It’s the way Ben reacted after that game,” Arseblog quotes the Spaniard as saying.
“He has a big personality and he has courage; to play, to make decisions, to step in front.
“When he’s not feeling 100 percent good, he still wants to train every day and he does it like the best.
“And the same when he wants to compete. In the long run, that takes you to a nice place, for sure.
“I think Ben is where he is today because of everything he’s done in the last few months.
“To achieve it is not a coincidence. It’s the work that he puts in every single day.”
“He’s playing a final every day in training”
Back in October, White raised some eyebrows when he revealed he wasn’t a football fan when young and rarely watches matches today.
However, Arteta has never once questioned his player’s commitment and professionalism, stressing that he’s amazing in training.
“He’s improved a lot in a lot of things,” added Arteta.
“In the end, how he’s being perceived is very important for the individual, what they think of me?
“And, if that’s relevant then you have to make yourself very aware of it and you have to transmit what you want to be.
“I’m telling you, you watch him train every day and you’ll be amazed. I think he’s playing a final every day in training sessions.
“That’s what we want from our players because when it comes to competing, that’s when you’re going to be ready.”