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Why did Arsenal move for Brighton’s Ben White?

By Swapnil Bhopatkar

Leeds United's Argentinian head coach Marcelo Bielsa (R) watches Brighton's English defender Ben White during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Leeds United at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on May 1, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Leeds United's Argentinian head coach Marcelo Bielsa (R) watches Brighton's English defender Ben White during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Leeds United at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on May 1, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal spending £50m on Brighton defender Ben White comes as little to no surprise.

For a team that parted ways with David Luiz, acquiring someone who would be their carrier from the back was a priority. However, disbursement of £50m for someone who only has 36 Premier League games on his resume comes with its fair share of risk.

While it’s too early to even think about his transfer fee, what needs highlighting is why Arsenal decided to go for the 23-year-old in the first place.

Ben White’s rise to fame may have come as surprise to many, but the 23-year-old holds high regard amongst several managers within the Premier League circuit.

During his loan spell with Leeds United in their promotional-winning season, White played every minute of Championship football.

This prompted Marcelo Bielsa to knock on Brighton’s door for a permanent transfer, but the amount Leeds were offering was just not enough. Since then, the defender’s valuation has doubled.

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