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Ex-Arsenal striker says White lost his form in recent times

By Ritayan Chatterjee on February 7, 2023

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has said that the Gunners defender Ben White’s ‘level has dropped a little bit’ in recent times.

The north London club have been enjoying a stellar campaign this term, sitting at the top of the league with 50 points from 20 games, five points ahead of second-placed Manchester City with a game in hand.

But, after back-to-back defeats in all competitions, Arsenal have recently encountered a little bump in the road. Mikel Arteta’s side endured a disappointing loss against Everton last weekend and presented a big opportunity to Manchester City to close the gap up top.

However, Pep Guardiola’s side failed to capitalise on that chance as Arsenal’s arch-rival Tottenham Hotspur did them a massive favour by beating City at White Hart Lane last weekend.

Speaking on the Highbury squad YouTube channel, Campbell said that Arsenal are currently ‘going through a sticky patch’ and this is normal in a long season.

White’s dip in form

The former striker further claims that White has lost his form a bit after enjoying a brilliant start to this campaign but explains that it’s tough for any player to continuously showcase their best all season.

Campbell said:

“We’re going through a sticky patch right now. Let me just say, everybody won’t play well all season, it’s impossible. Impossible, so Ben White has been incredible for the first part of the season, his level has dropped a little bit, it happens, that’s why we have a squad, that’s why you mix and match your squad.”

White – who is a centre-back by trait – has continuously been getting deployed in the right-back position this season in order to make room for William Saliba. In addition, injury problems to Takehiro Tomiyasu forced Mikel Arteta to use the former Brighton man in the full-back position.

The 25-year-old endured a tough time against Marcus Rashford a couple of weeks ago and eventually was taken off at the interval against Manchester United. He failed to impress this weekend as well in the defeat against the Toffees.

So, although he has done very well in an unfamiliar position for the first half of this season, this could be the right time to bring Tomiyasu – who has now returned to full fitness – back into the starting eleven.

However, it is unlikely that Arteta will change his first eleven that have been outstanding so far this term unless it is absolutely necessary. So, the fans will be hoping that White – who is valued at around £40m by Transfermarkt – will be able to return to his best in the coming weeks.