Graham Potter has no regrets over selling Ben White to Arsenal

Arsenal’s persuit of Ben White was one of the worst-kept secrets of the summer transfer window, and with Mikel Arteta willing to pay through the nose to get his top target it would appear that the negotiations were very amicable.

They seemed to go on forever due to White’s inclusion in Gareth Southgates England squad, and they were probably even more protracted as Brighton tried to squeeze every last penny out of Arsenal, despite knowing that the player wanted the move as much as Arteta did.

Six games later and White is now returning to the Amex in Arsenal’s colours, and Graham Potter has been talking to the Argus about White’s tough start at the Emirates: “Whenever you move club, it’s not a straightforward situation.

“As much as we’d like to, it’s not so easy to hit the ground running.

“I think that Arsenal, as a team, had a tough game against Brentford as the first game of the season and they had lots of issues in terms of Covid, etc.

“So, not the perfect situation for him but Ben’s a resilient character.

“He’s a fantastic footballer and great guy. We all love him here.

“Apart from obviously this weekend, we wish him well – and I’m sure he will do well.

“I think everybody won from that situation.

“We got a good fee, they got a good player. Ben gets a chance to play at a club that he sees as a progression for him so everybody wins.”

That little dig about White seeing Arsenal as a progression is telling, as currently the Seagulls are only one point behind the League leaders and may be feeling very confident of making Ben White’s return to the Amex an unhappy one for him and his new team-mates.

This is going to a real test for Arteta and all his new players, and it should be a very entertaining evening…

COYG!

Tags Ben White Graham Potter

3 Comments

  1. Of course we’re now just an English Borussia Dortmund. We signed players in the summer who “…are below 25, can improve and CAN INCREASE IN VALUE”. This was our summer transfer motto. Will the likes of Chelsea, The Manchester clubs or other European power houses sign players so they can increase in Value or sign good young players who will give up to a decade of service to them. I noticed this during the window and was concerned about it. It was widely reported throughout the window that Bissouma was ready to snub Liverpool and Manchester United to join us. This is the kind of signing to die for as his head would be less turned by a European power house. He was also much more needed than White. Nonetheless, White is fine. But will he be able to say no if City comes calling? Will we be competitive enough? No player leaves our club for better wages cos we pay well, contrary to what people think ((£40m + £1) I’m looking at you). Only the club’s competitiveness will keep certain players and I think White is one of them (Not a stain in him at all)

  2. how could a manager at a “smaller” club, currently punching above it’s weight, have any regrets over the selling off of his 4th best defender for a record haul…if I was him, I would be ecstatic about both how things transpired in the summer and about the possibility of attacking his side of the pitch this weekend, so I hope we’re ready for that tactical approach

  3. Potter, win lose or draw will be smiling at getting Arsenal to part with £50 million plus for Ben White, because of what a club like Brighton & Hove Albion can bring in for that money.

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors