Ben White is in line for what is surely set to be an emotional weekend as Arsenal look to take another step towards the Champions League. The Gunners are of course set to take on the defender’s former side Brighton & Hove Albion aiming to move back into the top-four.
Since departing the AMEX Stadium for the Emirates in the summer, the England man has impressed hugely. He has forged an excellent partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of the Arsenal defence and has been a huge reason behind the Gunners’ assault on the Champions League places.
It goes without saying that the 24-year-old will be hoping to continue his impressive run of form as Arsenal welcome his former side Brighton to the Emirates Stadium - but his role could look slightly different to what his teammates, supporters and the opposition would be used to.
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Having been signed as a centre-back last summer, that is where White has played the majority of his football for the Gunners thus far. However, Mikel Arteta might be forced to move him onto the right side of defence as Arsenal look to cope with a number of injury issues.
Kieran Tierney’s season looks likely to be over having had surgery on a knee problem, whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu’s calf issues are keeping him out of action. Usually, Portuguese duo Cedric Soares and Nuno Tavares would be expected to deputise in their respective absences but that seems unlikely for this weekend.
Despite showing promise since arriving in the same summer as White, Tavares has struggled over recent months. His most recent display against Crystal Palace resulted in a half-time substitution, whilst an outing against Nottingham Forest was ended before the break.
Should Arteta choose to keep him out of the spotlight, then that could see Cedric deployed at left-back, with White required to fill the vacancy on the opposite flank - Rob Holding being drafted into the back-line as a result. Of course, that is not a position that the former Leeds United loanee is unfamiliar with.
He made a few appearances for Brighton at right-back, whilst he has also been called on by Arteta to play that role before. Even England boss Gareth Southgate deployed White on the right-flank in the Three Lions’ recent friendly against Ivory Coast.
Speaking after that clash at Wembley, he said: “Ben White again tonight, I thought very composed, he played a couple of lovely passes in a position he has played but is not his first choice. Across the two games he did really well.”
It of course remains to be seen if Arteta follows Southgate’s lead against Brighton but it goes without saying that whatever position White is in, he will certainly be keen to help the Gunners to three points as the battle for Champions League football continues.
