Noel Whelan insists that Arsenal’s transfer target, Ben White is exactly the type of player that they have needed.
White has emerged as one of the first players that Arsenal should sign this summer and the English defender is highly rated.
The Gunners would see off a long list of suitors if they eventually win the race for his signature.
The Athletic reports that the Gunners are close to reaching an agreement with Brighton over transferring the former Leeds loanee.
Like most football fans, Whelan has been impressed by watching White play for the Seagulls in the Premier League.
He hails the Englishman as a modern-day centre back who can play from the back and be a playmaker in defence for the Gunners.
He says that is exactly what they have been missing so far and he would bring a lot of value to the Emirates.
He could cost Arsenal up to £50m and Whelan reckons that getting an England cap has increased his value.
Whelan told Football Insider: “I think the international cap has really pushed his value up.
“I called it when he first came to Leeds that he’d be playing international football in two, three years.
“With the style of play, he’s a centre-back that is a modern-day centre-back. The one thing Arsenal have been missing is that playmaker from the back, somebody with that bit of pace.
“He ticks every box for me, Ben White, hence why we were priced out of him. We knew he was going to be a star, a big player playing international football.
“He does fit Arsenal down to a tee, I’ll be honest with you. If it wasn’t going to be Leeds, I think Ben White going to Arsenal, that is the style of player that he is now.
“In my eyes, that background of Arsenal, how they play the game, there’s no doubt about it, they need a rebuild at the back, especially in that centre-half area.”
Rubbish. For 5OM, we could sign two other players, at least (players we actually need) for the same price, spreading the risk. But this is typical Arsenal, squandering our money, again. We go into each transfer period looking to sign circles, but end up signing squares…then struggle during the season, fitting squares in to circles.
But who cares? We can always make more deadwood, again!
Nonsense what do you mean?
You may be type of people how like to see the down fall of arsenal.
Two players with €50m🙄🙄🙄
I agree wholeheartedly with Noel Whelan and reject as foolishness the above post by R Francis and those who take his view.
A true top class CB has been missing at our club since CAMPBELL left us. Koscielny was good but not REAL tiptop quality and generally overhyped by most of our fans imo.
White is not a top class CB. He is only only 6FT tall, weak in the air and cannot defend set pieces.
The real top class CB we’ve been overlooking is our own William Saliba. Midfield should be our priority.
LETS EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE FOR YOUR VIEW AND THEN FOR MINE ! Your preferred CB has not yet played in the Prem and was loaned to a less franic and tough league in France where he seems to have done well.
But as yet and despite your claim that he is top class, youcan present NO Prem proven evidence at all.
White, my prefered choice, has had a stellar season, even in in a lower Prem team and made the England squad for the Euros.
That, my non realistic friend, is firm evidence as to Whites quality. All your man has to offer is blind hope from you and those who share your view. QED!
I’m more interested in your evidence in support of the inflated 50M valuation for White. This club is in trouble because we pay an arm and a leg for average players and sell our own for peanuts.
we’ve heard this before though. recent transfers shows that whoever we purchase, their quality decreases when they come to us. Something has to be going on with the coaching. Auba is really the only transfer who has stayed around his level of reputation.
Let Saliba prove himself by being taken to France senior team otherwise, we are going white even if he is overpriced, We should know that English players are always not cheap when you need them at their pick of play, and it’s good to have homegrown players in your team.
Do you know most England players won’t get into France team?
More so, white was only in that squad because of Arnold’s injury.