‘Beyond me’: Tony Adams blasts Arsenal’s transfer call involving hard-hitting player

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Tony Adams told Premier League Productions (22/08/21 at 1:10 pm) that Arsenal’s decision to sign Ben White this summer is ‘beyond me’.

The Highbury legend thinks that someone like Rob Holding has been harshly treated because he had his ‘best season at the club’ last time out – and now White could possibly block his path.

On the opening weekend of the season, Holding didn’t start for Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta opting to pair the hard-hitting and ball-playing White with Pablo Mari.

That resulted in a defeat then Holding came in for the England international when he tested positive for COVID before the loss against Chelsea.

Given that Adams dominated that centre-back spot during his hay day, he knows a top-quality defender when he sees one and he suggested that White shouldn’t have been brought in as a priority.

“The simple principle, for me, if you improve the position,” said Adams. “For instance, Ben White.

“We had Rob Holding, who was arguably our best player last season. The average age of a central defender is 27. He’s coming up to 26 or 27. He likes to fight.

“Like I said, he had his best season at the club. Then they have gone and recruited a player for £50 million in the same position. Arguably, they could play together, but you have Gabriel.

“But just that situation is beyond me. When there are other areas of the team you need to strengthen.

“Hector Bellerin in recent years, he got injured and has lost his forward quality.”

White is now swimming in the deep end and he’s not going to be provided with much assistance to swim in the rough and dangerous waters of the Emirates.

His own manager is struggling to keep himself afloat and is relying on the Englishman to push him away from trouble.

But the problem White and mainly Arteta faces is that the Spanish coach seemingly won’t have enough time to turn things around.

If Arteta continues to get it wrong during the coming weeks after the international break then it seems as though he could be handed his P45 by the club.