Arteta offers honest White assessment after his England exclusion

The Gunners’ £50m man failed to make it into Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers.

Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Ben White, saying he is “very impressed” by the defender’s attitude and form at Arsenal so far.

White joined Arsenal on a big-money transfer in the summer following his rise to prominence with Brighton in 2020/21.

His debut didn’t turn out as he would’ve wanted, with the 23-year-old producing a substandard performance in the shock defeat against newcomers Brentford on the opening day of the Premier League campaign.

However, the center-back now seems to have settled in his new surroundings, helping Arsenal record three clean-sheets in the last four games.

“Well, I’ve been very impressed with how he handles the pressure and how he’s handled the situation of coming through the Euros and paying the big fee and the composure and the calmness that he’s shown,” Arteta told reporters (via club’s official website).

“And as well, the willingness to learn, to improve, because he’s realised that he is still really young, still in the development process and there are things that he can improve.

“We are already enjoying [our time] together and we have to continue like that.”