Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have a number of top players, and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been impressed with particularly one of them.
Arsenal are having a wonderful season. The Gunners are at the top of the Premier League table at the moment and are aiming to beat Liverpool and Manchester City to the title.
Mikel Arteta’s side have also progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. The North London club will face Bayern Munich for a place in the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition.
Arsenal have been superb in attack and have been mean in defence. The North London club have scored 70 goals and have conceded 24 goals in 28 Premier League games this season.
Much has been made about how good William Saliba and Gabriel have been in central defence for Arsenal, and they have been excellent, but we should not forget the contribution of Ben White.
White is a central defender by trade, but the former Leeds United loanee has been playing at right-back. He has forged a very strong partnership with Bukayo Saka down the right flank for Arsenal.
The 26-year-old former Brighton and Hove Albion defender has played 37 matches in all competitions for Arsenal. The right-back has scored 16 goals and given 13 assists in those games.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been hugely impressed with White, but he has admitted that he does not know why the defender has refused to play for England.
Manchester United star Harry Maguire gives verdict on Arsenal ace Ben White
Maguire told The Times about White: “Ben’s an excellent footballer. He trained really well [at the World Cup before heading home early] but I honestly don’t know the ins and outs of why he’s not wanting to be in the squad at the moment.
“All I do know is that playing for your country is the greatest honour a footballer can get. When I was a young boy I dreamt of playing for my country. Every opportunity I get I will take. Playing for my country means absolutely everything to me.”
My View: Arsenal are the big winners
In my opinion, Ben White playing for England is good for Arsenal. The Gunners will not have to worry about the £50 million (Sky Sports) defender getting injured on international duty and will not have any issue with him suffering from fatigue.
It will be interesting to see if White maintains his stance of not playing for England in the future. He is 26 now, and I think that it would be a shame if he does not turn out for the Three Lions again.