Arsenal defender White ‘gives balance to the team’ but is ‘no Trent Alexander-Arnold’ – pundit

Arsenal right-back Ben White has shown he is “a very good defender” this season but does not hold a candle to Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, according to John Barnes.

White has been one of the best right-backs in the Premier League in 2022-23 with Arsenal leading the title race ahead of reigning champions Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta will have to rely heavily on the former Brighton youngster between now and the end of the season with Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba both injured.

The Gunners face Liverpool at Anfield this weekend in what will be a huge test of their title credentials.

Alexander-Arnold started on the bench in the Reds’ 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Tuesday evening, meaning he will be fresh as a daisy for the visit of Arsenal.

It will be interesting to analyse the difference in styles when England teammates White and Alexander-Arnold face off on Sunday.

White has a solid all-round game and has vastly improved defensively and on the ball this season, while the latter relies heavily on his technical ability and attacking prowess.

There are no doubts that the Liverpool man has struggled this term – especially when you compare him to White – but Barnes does not think this season alone makes the Arsenal right-back the superior player.

Barnes clearly does rate White, however, and has said his presence on the pitch “makes Arsenal feel comfortable”.

“Ben White has given Arsenal some defensive strength,” he told BonusCodeBets.

“Arsenal has been a bit thrills at the back previously. But he is a very good defender and he gives a lot to the balance of the team.

“He makes Arsenal feel comfortable when the opponents put in crosses because he normally is a centre half.”

Barnes continued: “No, he is not a Trent Alexander-Arnold who runs up and down the line all the time.

Both players were left out of the most recent England squad by manager Gareth Southgate.

Alexander-Arnold has never been Southgate’s first-choice right-back and Reece James’ return from injury saw him fall out of the squad after going to the World Cup.

White also went to the World Cup but personal reasons saw him leave the camp in Qatar early.

Some reports have claimed after ‘struggling to mix’ with his teammates.

The Football Association declined to respond to those claims and when asked if he could elaborate on the reports, Southgate said: “Well, not really.

“What I’ve been shown was alleged and there was another word that was used.

“I think by commenting on the story I could be giving it any form of credibility, really.

“We explained why Ben left the camp and I think it’s important that that is respected, really.”