Amid all the justified praise of Arsenal's young attacking stars, their most expensive addition of the summer, Ben White, has quietly gone about his business and rarely put a foot wrong.
The headlines are often either grabbed by the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard or fellow summer-signing Aaron Ramsdale between the sticks
But in the heart of the Arsenal defence, an area that has caused the Gunners so many problems in recent years, Mikel Arteta appears to have finally steadied things up with his current partnership.
Alongside Gabriel Magalhaes who arrived a year prior, White has thrived with the newfound responsibility that comes with being a regular for a club like Arsenal.
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Few predicted he would adapt to life in north London as seamlessly as he has, with a number of prominent football figures effectively writing the move off as a flop before a ball had been kicked.
Two ex-central defenders in Jamie Carragher and William Gallas both went public with their concerns as to whether Arsenal had made the right decision to spend so much.
Speaking after the Gunners' opening day defeat by Brentford, Carragher pondered if White would have the chance to showcase the kind of technical ability that made him so appealing to Arteta.
"Ben White isn’t going to get as many opportunities to step in with the ball, to actually show the quality that we all associate with him," Carragher said.
"You want to see him do well, it’s a big price tag, but I must say that as soon as Arsenal bought him – and he was linked with Liverpool for 12-18 months – my fear was I wouldn’t want him to come to Liverpool because he’s not tall enough, not good enough in the air.
"So he’s got to get someone in front of him or he’s got to get a lot stronger, cleverer in his body movements."
Carragher arguably should have waited until White had more than one game under his belt, as the remainder of the season has seen the 24-year-old become integral to the way Arsenal attack.
If he is not stepping out of the backline to make what is quickly becoming a trademark line-breaking run, he is finding Saka out on the right-flank with pinpoint passes.
Smith Rowe's goal in the home fixture against Watford back in November is a prime example.
White steps up into the final third to pinch the ball from Josh King beats one man before he is thwarted only for the ball to land at the feet of Smith Rowe who does the rest.
The game finished 1-0 and White's ability to step in with the ball helped Arsenal secure a vital three points.
As for Gallas' assessment, the Frenchman is hardly popular among the Arsenal faithful and his analysis on White will have done little to endear him to Gunners fans.
"It’s difficult for me to understand why Arsenal spent £50m on one player who is yet to prove himself at the top level," the former Gunners skipper said.
"And, at the same time, Manchester United can spend around £40m on [Raphael] Varane, who won the World Cup and has four Champions League titles. You have to explain to me how it’s possible?
"You can’t compare Ben White and Varane. I’m sorry, it’s not possible.
"And it’s not because he’s a fellow Frenchman that I’m talking like this. He comes from Real Madrid. He didn’t come from Brighton."
Fast forward to seven months into the season and White currently leads Arsenal for minutes played and interceptions as well as helping them keep the third most clean sheets in the league with 11.
Varane has seen his debut campaign at Old Trafford marred by persistent injuries while United as a collective are staring down the barrel of missing out on Champions League qualification.
White has been the foundation for a young, vibrant Arsenal side who are currently touted as the favourites for the coveted fourth spot.
There would be few better ways to silence his critics once and for all than for White to help guide Arsenal back into the European elite.
