There's often a big reaction to any confirmed Arsenal line-up and this has been the case for the pre-season friendly against FC Nurnberg with fans questioning Ben White's absence.
The defender, signed for £50m from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer, did have his fitness issues towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign as a hamstring injury saw him feature in just one of the final five matches and it also caused him to withdraw from the England squad for their UEFA Nations League games last month.
With that said, White did get 45 minutes under his belt at the weekend as Arsenal beat Ipswich Town 5-1 in a behind-closed-doors match at the club's London Colney training base and has been with the squad in Germany since Monday for a pre-season training camp.
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Therefore it has been considered somewhat of a surprise that he's not been included whatsoever in the Gunners' matchday squad as Mikel Arteta has opted to name youngster Reuell Walters in central defence alongside Pablo Mari who has returned following a loan spell with Udinese.
As expected, White's absence has garnered a big response from Arsenal supporters on social media with some demanding an explanation regarding his whereabouts and others fearing that he may have suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury that disrupted his progress towards the end of last season.
Well, judging by the club's Instagram and Twitter posts, everything seems fine with the 24-year-old as he's in attendance at the Max-Morlock-Stadion after being spotted alongside summer signing Gabriel Jesus as the pair were enjoying 'Good vibes only ahead of kick-off'.
The jury is largely still out on White following his big-money move last summer, but he has impressed Arsenal legend Alan Smith who believes the defender overcame a tricky start to his career in north London - up against Brentford's Ivan Toney to justify his aforementioned £50m price-tag.
"Yeah. When you think about his debut at Brentford when Ivan Toney rampaged all over him, he got a little embarrassed but picked himself up. Good character," Smith said. "I think it was a coup to get him. A lot of people were saying, '£50m for Ben White?' but you would get your money back now, I think easily.
"The understanding he has built with Gabriel has been good. He'll get better, and that character side of him is something that would appeal to Arteta, so even if Saliba comes back - Ben White is in the box seat. He has got himself into England reckoning as well, so he is a young player that will get better."
White's usual defensive partner in Gabriel Magalhaes has been named on the bench this afternoon alongside Lino Sousa, Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny, Charlie Patino, Gabriel Martinelli, Folarin Balogun, Marquinhos and Arthur Okonkwo.
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