Mikel Arteta has declared Ben White is 'back to the best version of himself' after the defender delivered a man-of-the-match performance in Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Brentford. The Gunners returned to the top of the Premier League table with the win at the Emirates Stadium.
White, who started only his second Premier League game of the season, provided the assist for Mikel Merino's opening goal in the 11th minute. The right-back has struggled for game time this term due to the excellent form of Jurrien Timber, but Arteta praised his attitude and determination.
Speaking after the match, Arteta said: 'Personally, I’m very, very happy for him as a human being. He’s a player who has always played for us, and sadly, because of the right reasons, he wasn’t playing that much because Jurrien was excellent. But his attitude has been so positive. When you are ready and you’re given the opportunity, you take it like he did today.'
The Arsenal boss highlighted White's defensive qualities and his ability to contribute in attack. 'The first thing as a defender is he defends with purpose and determination. Then if he can add value with the ball through his passing, movement and deliveries, so be it. Today he did both very well,' Arteta added.
Bukayo Saka sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal, restoring Arsenal's five-point lead at the top after Manchester City had won 24 hours earlier. Arteta also explained his decision to start Merino ahead of Viktor Gyokeres, citing the need to manage player fatigue after a demanding week.
