Arsenal are set to open talks with Ben White over a new contract as they ramp up efforts to reward their top performers.
According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Arsenal are set to initiate talks over a new contract for Ben White. The English utility man still has three years to run on his current deal. But the Gunners are keen to reward him for his excellent performances.
Ben White was a divisive signing in 2021 when Arsenal decided to pay £50 million for the then-Brighton & Hove Albion defender. Fans did not like the idea of spending so much on a player with just a single season in the Premier League. But the move has worked out well for everyone.
White played as a centre-back in his first season, but Mikel Arteta chose to shift him to a right-back role last season. The English defender has been a constant presence in their backline. He is now considered a near-indispendable player in his current form.
Ben White played in all 38 games for Arsenal in the Premier League last season, making 36 starts. The season before, he played 32 times in the league, thus making himself available all the time. Arteta considers him extremely important to his plans and system and would push the club to reward him for his displays.
Arsenal have extended deals for their important players since the start of last season. They have already renewed contracts for William Saliba, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. Martin Odegaard seems the next in line to commit his stay at the club, with Arsenal on the verge of offering a four-year agreement.
Odegaard and Ben White are the only two stars left among the current ranks who need immediate renewals, having played here for at least two seasons. Arsenal remain optimistic about renewing their captain’s contract, and they want to initiate talks with Ben White over his.
Unlike Odegaard, who has two years left on his current contract, Ben White still has three seasons to run. But Arsenal do not want to wait another year to reward for his top-notch displays and sort out his future for the long term now.
The deal could take a while to conclude. But with the Gunners planning on initiating immediate talks, it shows they intend to get this done. White’s presence has made Arsenal’s backline robust. Fans would like to see the utility man remain at the Emirates for the foreseeable future.
