Why Arsenal Won't Let Ben White Leave Despite Everton Interest

Ben White to Everton would suit both the player and the Merseyside club perfectly. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Arsenal have other ideas entirely.

The Gunners have constructed their squad with surgical precision under Mikel Arteta, spending heavily to assemble a well-balanced group capable of challenging on all fronts. That ruthless recruitment strategy has seen some genuinely talented players pushed aside, and White stands as the prime case study.

The England international arrived from Brighton for £50m and has performed admirably in an Arsenal shirt. Yet he finds himself in an unenviable position: competing with Jurrien Timber, one of Europe's finest full-backs, for a starting berth. Over the past 18 months, White has been consistently outranked in the pecking order.

The numbers tell the story. Timber has started all but two of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season, while White has managed just four league starts, hampered by fitness concerns of his own. With a World Cup year looming and England manager Thomas Tuchel signalling the door might be open, White's desire for regular football is understandable.

Enter Everton. David Moyes faces a genuine crisis at right-back following Seamus Coleman's injury, leaving the club desperately short of defensive cover. White represents the calibre of signing that could transform their campaign. For the player, too, this represents a lifeline—an escape route from the bench and a genuine chance to impress Tuchel ahead of international duty.

Yet Arteta will not budge. The Arsenal boss has already made his position crystal clear regarding Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, valued at £69m combined on Transfermarkt: neither will be departing on loan this month. If those two stay put, White certainly won't be going anywhere.

The logic is straightforward. Should Timber suffer an injury, White becomes Arsenal's only other option at right-back. More broadly, Arteta remains convinced that every member of his current squad will be needed as the team battles for silverware across four different competitions. Depleting his ranks now, even marginally, runs counter to that ambition.

Everton will need to look elsewhere to solve their defensive dilemma. Arsenal's grip on their squad remains absolute.