Sources: Arsenal confident of finalising a new long-term deal for ‘special’ defender

Follow us on Google Discover

• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

Arsenal are confident that they will finalise a new long-term contract for England defender Ben White, sources have told HITC Football.

HITC sources confirm that Arsenal began talks with Ben White earlier this season and talks have been ongoing, and now confidence is high that he will soon put pen to paper on a fresh deal.

The English defender has once again been an important cog for the Gunners as they bid to right the wrongs of last season and win their first Premier League title since 2004.

This season, White has made 32 appearances for the North London club and has, once again, been brilliant for Mikel Arteta’s side.

White is one of several players set to be rewarded with a new contract

White’s current deal is due to expire in 2026, but he has not had fresh terms since moving from Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal have now moved to reward him.

Arsenal have been busy tying down their talent to new long-term deals with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba, and Gabriel Martinelli all penning fresh terms in the last 12 months.

Another player who is set to be rewarded with a new deal is Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has also been an important player for the Gunners but in more of a squad role capacity.

He has played 20 games in all competitions for the Gunners this season including 13 Premier League matches but the form of White has meant Tomiyasu has been limited with his current game time.

Arteta’s relationship with White

During the midway point of last season, the Spanish manager explained that he believed that White was a ‘special player‘ for the Gunners.

There had been a moment of controversy during the aftermath of Arsenal’s win over Nottingham Forest this season when Arteta had to split up White and Oleksandr Zinchenko after a rather public spat.

Despite this, Arteta insisted that he ‘loved’ the passion that the pair had and it seems White will be rewarded with a new contract for his performances this season.