Date: 16th September 2022 at 7:00pm
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Former Manchester United and Arsenal star Mikael Silvestre has backed Ben White to retain his spot in the Arsenal starting lineup, despite playing in a make-shift role this season.

THE LOWDOWN: MAKESHIFT ROLE

Since joining Arsenal in a £50m move from Brighton in the summer of 2021, Ben White has been slotted immediately in the heart of the Gunners’ defence. After initial struggles in Arsenal colours, the 24-year-old has shrugged off those woes to become one of Mikel Arteta’s most reliable names.

Arsenal have looked more formidable at the back compared to previous seasons and White has played a key role in making that happen.

In the current campaign though, he’s had to help the team in a different way. William Saliba’s brilliant showing in pre-season saw the Frenchman become undroppable and the youngster has now worked his way into the starting XI under Arteta. With Takehiro Tomiyasu injured prior to the start of the season, White was deployed at right-back and has equally impressed in that position.

Though starring in a new right-back role, the defender has started all six of Arsenal’s league games in the current campaign, playing a key role as the Gunners lead the way at the top of the Premier League table.

Tomiyasu is now back to full fitness and question marks have arrived over the Gunners’ lineup at the back, with the big question being a matter of who will miss out.

THE LATEST: SILVESTRE MAKES HIS PICK

Ben White has barely put a foot wrong at right back and continues to impress with each passing game. Though he has often struggled with the physicality that comes with playing as a full-back, Silvestre believes the 25-year-old will retain a starting spot at the expense of Tomiyasu.

Asked about how Arteta should solve his defensive personnel issues and if Ben White would lose his place in the Arsenal XI, Silvestre said in an exclusive interview with BettingExpert:

“Not necessarily. I think Ben White has been doing better than a lot of people would expect. Especially in a game like this, he should retain his starting spot. He’s been good going forward. He’s been distributing well and applying what Arteta wants.

“It’s been working well. So no, I don’t think he should be dropped. Unless there is rotation for recovery. If I look at the merit and performance, he should retain his spot”

THE VERDICT: DESERVES TO PLAY

For the same reason that Saliba continues to play, there is no reason to take White out of the starting lineup as well. Arsenal continue to perform at the moment and Arteta will be right to think there is no need to change a winning team.

Tomiyasu is the unfortunate man to miss out at the moment and will have to make do as a back-up option for now and look to cup action for regular minutes.

 

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