Arsenal defender Ben White explains why he has found it simple to adapt to the inverted fullback role.
White White is now playing the renowned inverted fullback role, which is obvious to those who have been paying attention recently.
The inverted role was initially a preferred style for the left-back position. Oleksander Zinchenko excelled in that role and was the best at it. Takehiro Tomiyasu notably showed he could excel in the role. This season, Mikel Arteta had his key tactical game plan sorted with the two players (Tomiyasu and Zinchenko).
Unexpectedly, both Zinchenko and Tomiyasu became absent simultaneously due to different circumstances, like injuries and national team commitments. Arteta had to act swiftly regarding his left-back situation. He experimented with Jakub Kiwior as an inverted fullback, but the Pole faced challenges adapting to the new position and role. Another solution was to be considered.
Fortunately, using Kiwior as a conventional fullback and White as an inverted fullback, the inverted fullback tactic was held on to. Both White and Kiwior have performed exceptionally well in their new roles.
How has White managed to adapt to the inverted fullback role so easily? The former Brighton player shared that Mikel Arteta’s guidance helped him view the role as a simple tactical adjustment. Playing the role has certainly challenged his technical ability, stamina, and agility, but he feels at ease.
“I think when you have Mikel as your manager, it is quite easy, and he makes it simple for you,” White said via the Guardian.
“There were just a lot of instructions of where I needed to be, when I need to be there. I think most of the players could play in that position, because the key if you want to play for Arsenal is that you have got to be so technically gifted, strong, and fast. I think most of the players could do it.
“I am comfortable playing in there, but there are completely different things to look at. Like for me, playing centre-back and right-back, I only have to look forward; I never worry about what is behind me. This [role] is a completely different part of the game.”
Comments such as White’s undoubtedly shows the confidence in the side under Arteta. One cannot help but admire his determination to implement his preferred style of play and the progress that players like Ben White have made under his guidance.
Arsenal’s manager has a knack for maximizing players potential. Ben White’s performance is surpassing that which made Arsenal pay £50 million for his signing in 2021. Considering Ben White’s impressive performance, it’s hard to imagine any reason why Gareth Southgate wouldn’t include him in the Three Lions’ European Championships squad this summer.
jack Anderson
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Ben White is a ball playing defender, so it was always going to be easier for the Englishman to make that transition.
This tactical tweak with White has benefitted other players as well. It allows Odegaard to drop deeper when White is foward and in between the defensive lines with White behind him. Saka also has more freedom and is not stuck out wide. Brilliant move from the coaching staff and impressive of White who has adapted seamlessly.
Is it me, or did the change coincide with white’s form improving again? I think he was playing a more conventional fullback role earlier in the season, and it wasn’t working very well, he was average, but moving him inside and getting him more involved in the midfield has helped him return to the sort of form he was showing last season? For me, this shows he’s not a particularly good fullback in the traditional sense, but he’s a very good footballer who can be influential when we use his strengths.
It also appears to me that we’re better with white inverting and leaving zinchenko out. Don’t like saying that because I like zinchenko and believe he’s a more gifted technical player, but we seem to work better without him now.
White was one our best players last season while playing as a conventional fullback and his combination with Odegaard and Saka was productive for our attack so I wouldn’t really call him average in that regard. I think White’s dip in form was due to the rumoured injury he was carrying while playing. The winter break must have done his fitness some good.Also,White has inverted for only three or four games but he’s been impressive for longer than that,including the Liverpool game.
Intersting piece Jack. An enjoyable read too.
Good on White for his admirable optimsim but I cannot personally agree that ANY of our players could play this inverted role.
White DOES have the ability but I doubt that Tomi,or Kiwior does.
And even Zinny only plays the inverted role well at the HARMFUL expense of us not having a decent left back, while he plays it.
I would prefer MA to use Zinny ONLY in midfield, never elsewhere, and forget any notion that he is a defender at all, as IMO he has shown himself NOT to be one at all.
White however CAN do both jobs and I hope that continues.