Ben White: Arsenal fans have fallen in love with Mikel Arteta's new master of sh*thousery

When White first signed from Brighton in the summer of 2021, there were plenty of questions raised over the £50 million price tag. Those doubters have long been silenced, however.

The 25-year-old has been exceptional, whether that be at centre-back last season or at right-back during the current campaign, where he has excelled having been switched out wide by Arteta to accommodate William Saliba.

Very few central defenders could move into a full-back role and look as assured as White has done in this Arsenal side, but such is his level of ability that he has made it look easy.

“Ben has been incredible all season,” Bukayo Saka said, while discussing his team-mate. “We are building a great partnership, with Martin [Odegaard] on that right side.”

It’s not just his performance levels that have made White so popular at Arsenal, however - it’s the way he handles himself. Never has the term ‘sh*thousery’ applied more to a player than it does to Arteta’s right-back. 

Reminding Spurs fans of the score during the north London derbies, the tactical fouls, the little digs to the opposition keeper while waiting for a corner to come in, the sly smile he gives when he gets a reaction. It all just adds to his cult hero status in north London.

As do his post-match interviews, as we witnessed after Saturday’s win. White wasn’t joking when he said he doesn’t watch football.

"I watch myself for analytical reasons,” he explained earlier in the season. “I just wouldn't just sit down and watch a game. After I’ve trained all day and had four or five meetings about football, the last thing I want to do is watch more.”

That’s the sort of the thing that makes White stand out so much from the crowd. He’s just not the type to personality we are used to seeing in the Premier League, and Arsenal fans love him for that.

They love that he has that edge to him, that he has that ability to wind up the opposition players and their fans. 

Occasionally, White’s antics can backfire, as they did at Leicester when the VAR cameras picked up his tug on Danny Ward and so ruled out Leandro Trossard’s stunning goal. But you won’t find an Arsenal fan who would want White to change his ways because of that.

Of course, if you have that side to your game like White has, you have to be able to back it up on the pitch, and he can certainly do that.

The partnership he has struck up with Saka down that flank has been so integral to Arsenal’s success. The understanding they have, along with Odegaard, is one of the great strengths of Arteta’s side.

Although Trossard filled in excellently for Saka against Leeds, it was very evident in the first half how much White was missing having his usual partner in crime operating in front of him.

But one of White’s biggest attributes, which can be said for Trossard as well, is his level of intelligence and technical quality, and so it didn’t long for either player to adapt and make a big impact on the game.

White’s goal just after half-time was crucial, as it gave Arsenal the breathing space they needed. 

Gabriel Martinelli understandably took a lot of credit for his excellent ball in, but when you look at White in the replays, he is pointing exactly where he wants it. He was clever enough to see the space and get in front of his defender to score. It was just reward for his industry and his vision. 

It was also his second crucial goal in a matter of weeks, following on from his strike against Bournemouth.

“He’s timing his runs very well and he’s a threat,” said Arteta. “Even on set-pieces, he’s improved a lot to be more dangerous and to drive more attention to the opponent. “

The reaction of his team-mates in the celebration that followed White’s goal against Leeds told its own story. You can see how popular he is within the squad by the way he was mobbed by everyone.

It was also very apparent how much joy his team-mates were all taking in giving him a series of head slaps. Oleksandr Zinchenko even kicked him up the backside.

This was clearly some payback for all the times he had done it to them during various celebrations over the course of the past few months.

Arsenal have had so many stand out performers this season and it’s understandable that there are other players in Arteta’s young team who perhaps catch the eye more than White.

The likes of Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli deserves the plaudits they have been getting, given what they have been producing in the final third all season.

And the centre-back pairing of Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes should be singled out for praise for the stability they have given Arsenal in the heart of defence.

But White has undoubtedly been one of the stars of the campaign, with his mixture of technical ability and dark arts mastery making him a hugely popular figure in the changing room and in the stands.

Arsenal's right-back might not watch football himself, but there are plenty of people who do. And he has given them a lot to smile about this season, on and off the pitch.