Analysis: How Ben White will improve Arsenal’s offensive game

Ben White became Arsenal’s fourth most expensive signing and most expensive defender after joining from Brighton for £50m.

He may have been initially signed to solidify Arsenal’s backline but his attributes will positively impact the teams’ attacking game.

The England international is composed on the ball, comfortable at receiving it under pressure and passing it around to teammates.

White suit’s Mikel Arteta’s style of organized, possession-based football and starting attacks from the back. The 23-year-old’s standout attributes are in possession. He is a skillful ball-carrier, and is often able to break an opposition’s press himself.

The benefit of being able to break a press through a single player’s dribbling is that the rest of the team can take up more advanced positions rather than having to stay deeper to pose as a short passing option.

Ben White. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Ben White can switch the play from defence to attack by pinging the ball into the opposition’s half for the attackers, similar to what David Luiz was doing.

He is not a physical defender, his strengths are his game reading and positional awareness. White’s versatility is not to be ignored, he can comfortably play on the right side of a back three. He can also be fielded at right-back or defensive midfield.

Ben White is quick for a centre-half enabling him to move smoothly forward closer to the oppositions half based on Arteta’s tactical instructions.