Martin Keown has told talkSPORT that Ben White has three areas he needs to improve, but the centre-half is helping to give Mikel Arteta a defensive line that Arsenal can build from.
The Gunners took White to north London this summer in a £50m transfer with Brighton. He replaced David Luiz at the Emirates Stadium after the Brazilian departed at the end of his contract, while representing an upgrade on Rob Holding, Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari.
Arteta has since shown White is his preferred partner for 2020 signing Gabriel Magalhaes. The pair have both started Arsenal’s last 15 Premier League games for eight clean sheets.
White has additionally played more minutes than any other Arsenal player so far this term with 1,440. Bukayo Saka is also the only other Gunners star who has started 16 matches.
Keown shares three-step programme White must follow at Arsenal
White has impressed Arsenal hero Keown with his ability on the ball since moving to north London. He is also forming a solid unit with Gabriel, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney.
But the Gunners’ three-time Premier League winning former centre-half wants to see the current incumbent of the position improve in three areas, starting with his defensive traits.
“I think the partnership he’s formed with Gabriel, particularly Tomiyasu coming in and now Tierney back in the back-four, that is a really good back-four with Ramsdale behind being outstanding,” Keown said. “That is the sort of base now that Arsenal can go and build from.
“When you look at him in possession, the way he comes out with the ball; really confident, playing some superb passes. The defensive side is where you want to look and I think that’s improving. And then it’s about forming where is the line, where’s your opponent, the ball.
“And forming that partnership and also becoming a leader. That’s the next step.”
White’s Arsenal career began on the wrong foot at Brentford in August when Ivan Toney’s aerial threat proved far superior. A difficult night at Manchester United earlier this month when Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo evaded him also led to another at Everton.
But his off-days in red-and-white have been far more infrequent than his days excelling in the Gunners defence. And even when he has struggled, his confidence on the ball has often remained high. Yet Arteta will also want to see White match those levels when off the ball.
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