“He won’t ever tell you that he’s not fit” - Mikel Arteta on Arsenal star who ‘will run through a brick wall’ for team

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta spoke about Ben White, who was on the bench for their last Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday (September 22). Arteta praised the defender's dedication after the game ended in a 2-2 draw at Etihad Stadium.

Prior to this clash, White last started a Premier League fixture on the bench in May 2022. As questions surfaced about the 26-year-old's exclusion from the starting XI against City, Arteta explained before the match (via GOAL):

"It was a little bit forced (to drop Ben White and start Riccardo Calafiori), but we are ok. We've done it with different players but we have full belief in the players we have. It gives us something different."

Manchester City opened their scoring with Erling Haaland's goal through an assist by Savinho just nine minutes into the clash. Riccardo Calafiori netted the equalizer for the Gunners after being set up by Gabriel Martinelli in the 22nd minute.

Gabriel Magalhaes took the lead for Arsenal with a header from close range with Bukayo Saka's cross following a corner (45+1'). However, the Gunners were left with 10 players on the field by the end of the first half after Leandro Trossard received two yellow cards in 19 minutes.

Ben White came off the bench, replacing Saka at the beginning of the second half. City, meanwhile found their equalizer with John Stones' left-footed shot minutes before the final whistle.

Following the 2-2 draw, Mikel Arteta lauded Ben White, suggesting that the Englishman would go to any extent to help the squad. The Spanish manager said (via Fabrizio Romano on X):

"He will run through a brick wall for you. We didn’t want to play him but we had to… I spoke to him, I wanted to protect him. He won’t ever tell you that he’s not fit!"

Ben White, who arrived at the Emirates Stadium from his boyhood club Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021 for a reported fee of £50 million, has maintained four clean sheets in six appearances across competitions for Arsenal so far this season.

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Mikel Arteta on Leandro Trossard's red card in Arsenal's PL draw against Manchester City

Following Arsenal's 2-2 draw against Manchester City in their fifth Premier League match of the season, Mikel Arteta shared his thoughts on Leandro Trossard's red card in the clash.

Trossard received his first booking of the match after committing a foul on Savinho in an attempt to win back possession in midfield in the 34th minute. The Belgian left-winger was sent off (45+8') after receiving his second yellow card for charging through the back of Bernardo Silva during an aerial duel in front of the referee before kicking the ball away after the whistle.

When asked about the red card, Arteta seemed to be disappointed with the referee's decision. He said (via Fabrizio Romano on X):

"Red card? I prefer not to comment… I've seen it. It's that obvious. I'm expecting now 100 Premier League games to be played 10 against or 11."

With this draw against Manchester City, Mikel Arteta's squad is now fourth on the Premier League table with 11 points.