Video: Mikel Arteta left in disbelief over what £50m Arsenal star did against Man City, has hands on head
Arsenal’s coach Mikel Arteta was visibly stunned as he watched Ben White display remarkable self-assurance when facing off against Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku during Sunday’s game.
Following their crucial 1-0 victory over the reigning champions, Arsenal shared their Bench Cam footage, revealing Arteta’s emotional response on the sidelines.
Mikel Arteta is widely recognized as one of the most expressive managers in the Premier League.
He seizes every chance to guide his players during matches and doesn’t shy away from expressing his thoughts on every decision made by the officials.
There are instances when he is so close to the action that he appears poised to step in and make a tackle if the opposition launches a counterattack.
Arteta has no qualms about openly displaying his emotions, as was evident when Ben White had him holding his breath during his encounter with Jeremy Doku on Sunday.
The £50 million defender has been exceptional this season, commencing the season as a central defender before transitioning to the right-hand side of the defense.
On this particular occasion, he didn’t have his typical partner, Bukayo Saka, playing in front of him. However, he still managed to perform admirably alongside Gabriel Jesus.
Arteta reacts to White vs. Doku showdown
In the video posted by Arsenal, White can be seen sprinting down the right wing but then decides to backtrack while under pressure from Doku.
As Doku closes in on him, White deftly maneuvers the ball through his legs using his left foot.
He then takes a couple of touches and passes the ball to Thomas Partey. Arteta, on the sideline, watches with great intensity, and as White executes this skillful move, he reacts by placing his hands on his head and even partially covering his eyes, clearly surprised by his defender taking such a daring risk.
Arteta raises his hands in the air in a gesture of excitement and approval once White successfully lays the ball off to a teammate. Arsenal continues to apply pressure on Manchester City in their half of the field.
Embed from Getty ImagesBen White is a player that Arsenal can consistently depend on, and some pundits have even suggested that he appeared effortless in his performance on Sunday.
Arteta has immense confidence in White at the moment, and despite not being the flashiest player—despite his impressive display against Doku on Sunday—he’s one of the first names on the team sheet.
The role White plays for the remainder of the season will be intriguing to watch, especially when Thomas Partey is fully fit.
There’s a possibility that Partey might return to the right-back position, pushing White to play in a more central role. However, it could be challenging to relegate Gabriel Magalhaes to the bench after his performance over the weekend.
This presents Arteta with a pleasant problem to have, as he must decide how to best utilize his talented defensive options.
Video: Mikel Arteta left in disbelief over what £50m Arsenal star did against Man City, has hands on head