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‘I Got Good Vibes’: Ben White Reveals How Mikel Arteta Convinced Him to Join Arsenal

Published 08/01/2021, 2:51 AM EDT

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Arsenal have been on a roll this season. After adding some depth to the defense by bringing in Nuno Tavares, the Gunners brought in young midfielder Sambi Lokonga. But the Londoners still have to address some big issues in their team.

The Gunners knew they had to splash the cash if they wanted a big money signing and they have just done the same. Paying a hefty sum of £58 million, Mikel Arteta has added a premier defender in Ben White.

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Ben White explains how Mikel Arteta convinced him to join Arsenal

White who is coming off of an excellent 2020-21 campaign in the Premier League is touted as one of the best young defenders in Europe. While he did not feature in the Euros, a selection to a premier competition after a single season in the top tier speaks for itself.

While there was interest from many teams like Manchester United, White ultimately joined he Gunners. In a recent interview, the English defender explained how head coach Mikel Arteta convinced him to join the Londoners.

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“I don’t think I needed too much convincing to be fair. Obviously Arsenal speaks for itself and I spoke to the gaffer a number of times during the summer. I got good vibes and the way the gaffer wants to play, I think I can produce quality in this team and hopefully get Arsenal back.”

The 23-year-old defender is arguably one of the most exciting young center backs in the Premier League. While his team Brighton Hove Albion barely survived the relegation zone, if not for White, ‘the Seagulls’ might have dropped to the championship.

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White is set to be a mainstay in a new look Arsenal defense with last season’s statement signing Gabriel. This is certainly a much more encouraging sign of things to come for the Londoners. After struggling with an aging back-line and a leaky defense, Arsenal finally are on the verge of having a stable defense line.

But a signing of White is just the start. Arsenal have already made signings like Lokonga, Nuno Tavares along with White. Their next focus should be on the midfield position. The Gunners are building an excellent team filled with some proven young stars. Will the Londoners be able to clinch a top 4 position next season?

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Written by:

Aditya Mohapatra

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Aditya Mohapatra is a sports enthusiast who primarily covers the NBA for EssentiallySports. Having graduated in Mass Communication, he has prior experience in writing for ABP News, and has been writing for EssentiallySports since November 2020. This die-hard Los Angeles Lakers fan feels that LeBron James is the best thing to have ever happened to the NBA, and will hold a healthy debate with anyone suggesting otherwise.
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