Rio Ferdinand has suggested that Arsenal needed a Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane or Thiago Silva-type signing this summer and not a Ben White, as he told his own YouTube channel.
The Englishman joined the Gunners for a big-money fee this summer after only one season at Brighton last term.
Things didn’t get off to the best of starts for White on Friday night because Arsenal suffered a deserved 2-0 defeat to newly-promoted Brentford.
It was previously suggested by former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips that White is a better signing than Varane.
But Ferdinand was having none of it, as he urged the former Premier League player to ‘clarify his talk’.
“Forget Man United right now,” said Ferdinand. “Are you not happy with the signing of Ben White?
“Shaun Wright-Phillips he did (on his White/Varane comments). You have to come on and clarify this type of talk. I saw him say it.
“The issue I have with Arsenal, especially centre-backs, you can’t buy for in a year. If I am an Arsenal fan, what you need is someone to come in, grab up the training ground, grab up all the players and say ‘come, let’s go’.
“I think Ben White, at this stage of his career, needs a partner that can bring him along. Like a Harry Maguire. Maybe a Varane or a Thiaga Silva. They have needed a centre-back to come in and defend.”
White is now in the deep end and if he can’t handle the pressure then he will really struggle.
The England international is the one Arsenal will be looking at to get them out of their hole and he doesn’t have much help around him.
Come the weekend, Chelsea may provide a certain Romelu Lukaku with his second Chelsea debut.
And if the Serie A winner starts at the Emirates then it might just prove to be a long afternoon for White.
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