Mikel Arteta has declared that defender Ben White is now playing at his peak level following a standout performance in Arsenal's 2-0 Premier League victory over Brentford on Wednesday night.
White Shines in Rare Start
The win, secured by goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka, saw Arsenal re-establish a five-point gap at the summit of the table. The match was particularly significant for White, who was handed only his second league start of the season on December 4, 2025.
Seizing his opportunity, the 28-year-old delivered an influential display from the right flank. His precise cross after just 11 minutes found the head of Merino, who nodded home to give the Gunners an early lead. Saka's injury-time strike then sealed the three points for the north London side.
Arteta's Personal Praise
White's commanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award, prompting effusive praise from his manager after the final whistle. Arteta emphasised his delight for White on a personal level, highlighting the player's resilience after spending much of the campaign as an understudy to the excellent Jurrien Timber.
"Personally, I’m very, very happy for him as a human being," Arteta stated. "I think the rest of the team is the same because he’s a player who has always played for us, and sadly, because of the right reasons, he wasn’t playing that much."
A Triumph of Attitude
The Spanish coach pinpointed White's exemplary mindset during his spell out of the starting eleven as the foundation for his successful return. "His attitude has been so positive, so good," Arteta explained. "Then when you are ready and you’re given the opportunity, you take it like he did today."
Arteta went on to detail the dual qualities that made White's performance so effective. "The first thing as a defender is he defends, and defends with that purpose and with that determination and efficiency. He’s done that today," he said.
"Then if he can add the value that he can add with the ball through his passing, through his movement and through the deliveries that he can put in with the quality that he has, so be it, and today I think he’s done both very well."
Concluding his assessment, Arteta delivered the definitive verdict that will encourage Arsenal fans: "So I’m very happy that we have him back in the best version of himself as well, and we’re going to need him because he’s a tremendous player." With the title race heating up, White's return to form provides a timely boost for the league leaders.
