Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal star is ‘back to his best version’ after Brentford win | Football
Mikel Arteta believes Ben White is ‘back to the best version of himself’ after Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brentford.
White earned just his second Premier League start of the season on Wednesday night and delivered an impressive performance down Arsenal’s right flank as he provided the cross for Mikel Merino’s header after 11 minutes.
Bukayo Saka then found the net in added time to complete Arsenal’s victory which restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
White was named Player of the Match for his performance and, speaking after the match, Arteta praised the 28-year-old for his “attitude” after struggling to secure a regular role ahead of Jurrien Timber this season.
“Personally I’m very, very happy for him as a human being,” Arteta said of White.
Get your football fix
Hard-hitting analysis, transfer discussions and more The metro football experts sent straight to your inbox – sign up, it’s an open goal.
“I think the rest of the team is the same because he’s a player who always played for us, and unfortunately, for the right reasons, he wasn’t playing much because Jurrien (Timber) was great, and he was out for a while, and then he needed to earn his place.
“But his attitude has been so positive, so good. Then when you’re ready and you’re given the opportunity, you take it like he did today.
“So I’m very happy that we also have him back in the best version of himself, and we’re going to need him because he’s a tremendous player.
“The first thing as a defender is that he defends, and defends with this objective, with this determination and this efficiency. He did that today.
“Then if he can add the value that he can add with the ball through his passing, through his movement and through the deliveries that he can make with the quality that he has, so be it, and today I think he did both very well.”
For more stories like this, check out our sports page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Regis Le Bris claims Sunderland players were ‘surprised’ by Liverpool tactics after Anfield draw
MORE: Enzo Maresca explains why Estevao was sent off for a second consecutive match against Leeds
MORE: Emmanuel Petit ‘worried’ for Arsenal duo after double injury against Brentford