Country: England
Not sure if this has been posted. Good stuff.
"Arsenal's pursuit of Ben White has caused puzzlement among some supporters. For a side with the third-best defensive record in the Premier League last season, wouldn't £50m be better spent elsewhere?
But for Mikel Arteta, like many coaches in the modern game, a central defender's remit is not simply to keep the ball out of his own net. It is to move it upfield as accurately and effectively as possible, and in doing so become the starting point of the team's attacks.
Arteta regards playing out from the back as a key tenet of his philosophy, but progressing the ball from one end of the pitch to the other has been a persistent problem during his tenure - particularly when he has been without David Luiz, whose departure this summer has left a ball-playing void in the heart of Arsenal's defence."
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"Potter and Bielsa, like Arteta, are committed to playing out from the back and the same is true of Gareth Southgate, who fast-tracked White into the England squad ahead of Euro 2020 and is said to regard him as a key figure in the future of the national side."
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"In fact, despite averaging fewer passes per game than his Arsenal counterparts last season, White played a notably higher percentage of his passes forward. It reflects his willingness to send his team on to the attack rather than simply recycle possession."
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"But White offers plenty more than forward-thinking distribution.
In fact, one of his most eye-catching qualities, and one which is practically unique among central defenders in the Premier League, is his ability to dribble the ball out of defence.
Last season, White completed more successful dribbles than any other central defender in the division and his numbers for carries, defined by Opta as movements with the ball of five metres or more in distance, were even more impressive.
Indeed, White ranked top for carries with take ons, according to Opta, with his total of 18 nearly twice as high as any other central defender. By committing players in his own half, he is able to destabilise opponents and create space for others to exploit.
White's dribbling is facilitated by his athletic profile as well as his technical skill. The defender is strong in the duel and boasts impressive pace and acceleration. Together with his close control, those attributes help him glide past opponents.
They will also appeal to Arsenal in a defensive sense. Arteta favours a high line, much like his mentor Pep Guardiola, but a lack of pace among his existing centre-back options leaves Arsenal vulnerable in behind. White's recovery speed could change that.
So too could his ability to read the game. White is relatively inexperienced at 23, but he is always alert to danger - he averaged more interceptions per 90 minutes than any of Arsenal centre-backs last season - and always aware of what's going on around him.
Another crucial difference with Luiz, the man he will be replacing at Arsenal, is that he rarely makes mistakes.
In fact, in 82 league appearances for Brighton and Leeds over the last two seasons, White has not made a single error leading to an opposition shot, according to Opta. Luiz, by contrast, has made four in 53 appearances in the same time frame."
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"Brighton finished 16th in the Premier League but defensively they were one of the best sides in the division, keeping 12 clean sheets - the same number as Liverpool and Arsenal - and conceding 46 goals - only two more than second-placed Manchester United. All with White playing more minutes than any other player."
Ben White to Arsenal: Brighton defender can add a new dimension for Mikel Arteta's side
Arsenal have signed Brighton centre-back Ben White in a deal worth £50m; White brings technical ability, attacking impetus and flexibility to Mikel Artetas sidewww.skysports.com
Oh boy, 0 errors leading to a shot will probably change real quick.
