INTERVIEW: Ben White wants Arsenal to brush aside recent disappointment by finishing their Premier League campaign strongly as the defender opens up on his own personal injury frustration
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Ben White
Ben White wants Arsenal to consolidate second place against Newcastle(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Ben White claims Arsenal will reluctantly accept another second-place finish - providing they display the hunger to go one better next season in their two final matches. Victory over Newcastle, who have beaten Mikel Arteta's frustrated Gunners on three separate occasions this season, would officially consolidate runners-up spot.
And White feels that's not to be sniffed at given the various injury struggles Arsenal have endured throughout a notably challenging campaign that has stretched the squad to its limits.
He said: "Obviously we can't win it but we still want to do as well as possible and get second place, which is really important. We just want to win games, which we know we can.
"This season, we've had a difficult time with injuries and I think we've done well with that. You see other teams that have had big injuries and they're not sitting very well in the league.
"So yes, we've had some big injuries and I believe that it's a credit to all the players that have come in and done so well."
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While White and Arsenal won't finish the season with silverware, he's still set his eyes on his own personal treble.
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The 27-year-old, who has only made 15 Premier League appearances this season after undergoing minor knee surgery in November, is set to become a father this summer but he is also targeting a return to optimum fitness and additionally, would relish an England recall.
He continued: "I've never really been injured before. I didn't really know how to deal with it as well as I probably could have.
Ben White of Arsenal during a training session
Ben White is back fit after battling through a knee injury which forced him to undergo minor surgery in November
(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Getty Images)
"It's just so long, not doing what you love and not being able to help the team was tough. I'm back now, feeling good and I think it's about getting ready for next season.
"I'm having a baby this summer so I'm going to be in England, training every day and getting back to my best. It's something so exciting and probably the most valuable thing you can have happen."
White added on his international future following positive talks with Thomas Tuchel: "I'm definitely available. I spoke to him a few times and he's such a nice, nice man, very honest.
"Obviously I haven't been back for too long so it’s just about playing now and hopefully making my way back in."
Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel made it clear to Ben White that he's part of his England plans
(Image: Alex Pantling/UEFA)
White insists healthy competition with Jurrien Timber at Arsenal is spurring him on, explaining: "Seeing JT come back from an ACL, he's had to play every game and has done so well. It would have been ideal if I could have helped and maybe taken a little bit of stress off him.
"I think it's a great situation for everyone, we're two completely different full-backs so it's nice to have different options and different qualities to bring to the team."
Arsenal, who conclude their campaign at Southampton next Sunday, could welcome back Kai Havertz this weekend. The German - sidelined since February when he damaged his hamstring during a mid-season training camp in Dubai - has already caught White's eye in training.
He concluded when asked if things might have been different had Havertz stayed fit: "I think you could say that about all the players. It's so funny, he hadn't trained for months yet came back into the team the other day and was still unbelievable."
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