Arsenal Set to Part Ways with Ben White as Timber Establishes Dominance at Right-Back

The writing appears to be on the wall for Ben White at Arsenal. Once a £50m cornerstone of the Gunners' defence following his 2021 arrival from Brighton, the 28-year-old England international now finds himself surplus to requirements in north London.

White's fall from grace stems not from any dramatic loss of form, but rather from the meteoric rise of Jurrien Timber. Arteta's summer acquisition has proven so commanding in the right-back berth that the manager's decision to effectively demote White—despite the latter's 181 appearances across all competitions—now looks entirely vindicated.

With just seven Premier League outings this season, White's opportunities have dried up considerably. A potential loan switch to Everton in January failed to materialise, but a permanent departure appears inevitable come summer. Arsenal's internal acceptance of this reality suggests the club will entertain offers, provided the fee justifies letting the defender leave.

Club insiders maintain genuine admiration for White and would have preferred to retain him, yet pragmatism has won the day. A "sizable fee" would prompt the Gunners to open the exit door.

The north London club has already begun scouting replacements. Five candidates are under consideration: Spanish prospect Ivan Fresneda, Roma's Wesley Franca, Newcastle's Tino Livramento, Eintracht Frankfurt's Nnamdi Collins, and Monaco's Vanderson.

White's England recall for this month's international break offers a potential lifeline to his Arsenal career, though his limited playing time makes that outcome increasingly unlikely. Former Gunners defender Bacary Sagna has weighed in on White's future, cautioning against a premature move to the MLS. At 28, Sagna argues, White remains at an age where he should remain competing at Europe's elite level, particularly with his England prospects potentially dependent on regular football at a top club. The veteran believes White's best years should be spent chasing major trophies in Europe rather than seeking a lucrative American switch.