Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are one of the most complete sides in world football.
They control every phase of the game, from build-up to rest defence and have reached a level of collective understanding that few teams can match.
Their possession play suffocates opponents, their defensive structure is near impenetrable, and their set-piece routines are among the most innovative in the sport.
Even Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were reduced to sitting in a low block versus this Gunners side.
Arsenal’s dominance from dead-ball situations has been widely documented.
Before the Burnley game, they had already scored nine set-piece goals this season, which is more than any other Premier League team.
Yet a closer look at the data reveals an imbalance in their attacking profile.
Out of 16 goals in total, only five have come from open play (17th in the league).
Their open-play xG of 7.8 ranks eighth, and with just 31% of their goals originating from open play, they have the lowest share in the Premier League.
Arsenal are not short of attacking talent, nor tactical clarity.
However, as their reliance on set-pieces grows, one overlooked solution could help restore fluidity in open play: Ben White.
This scout report does not seek to criticise Arteta or his methods.
Instead, it explores how Ben White’s unique influence, particularly his relationship with Bukayo Saka, could be the tactical tweak that restores Arsenal’s fluency in open-play attacks.
This analysis will delve into the benefits of the White and Saka partnership and how White’s profile could be key to breaking down compact low-block defences that have frustrated Arsenal in recent weeks.
Arsenal Attacking Imbalance
The stats above illustrate a surprising truth.
Arsenal rank first for set-piece goals and fourth for total goals, but they are just 19th for the percentage of xG created from open play.
This imbalance doesn’t necessarily indicate a flaw, but it does hint at a missed opportunity.
Arteta’s Arsenal are capable of controlling matches through patience and structure, yet at times that control has come at the cost of unpredictability.
Their attacks often end in recycled possession rather than dynamic final-third entries.
Against low blocks, where the margins are tight, the absence of quick, purposeful combinations down the right flank has become noticeable.
This analysis isn’t about criticising Mikel Arteta.
Far from it.
It’s about identifying how one tactical adjustment, embodied in Ben White’s profile, can reintroduce the chaos and tempo that made Arsenal so devastating in the 2022/2023 season.
Ben White Style Of Play
To understand Ben White’s value, it’s worth tracing his development.
Before joining Arsenal, White played under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United, a coach renowned for his man-to-man pressing system, relentless intensity, and emphasis on third-man movements.
Ben White plays a pass with Saka and in Bielsa style overlap - he overlaps with crazy intensity into the space
Ben White plays a pass to Saka and overlaps with crazy intensity into the space.
That Saka - White connection - He receives the ball back from Saka in space and now all he has to do is deliver a cross into the box and find an Arsenal player
White receives the ball back from Saka in space, and now all he has to do is deliver a cross into the box and find an Arsenal player.
Of course he has it bang on the money as is Ben White's quality! He finds Xhaka and Arsenal executed a brilliantly worked goal but it all came from Ben White's Bielsa style intensity overlap!
Of course, he has it bang on the money, as is Ben Whites quality! He finds Xhaka and Arsenal executed a brilliantly worked goal, but it all came from Ben Whites Bielsa-style intense overlap!
Bielsa’s methods instilled an exceptional understanding of space, timing, and physical endurance, all traits that define White’s current game.
Under Mikel Arteta, he has harnessed that Bielsa intensity and channelled it into a more controlled, structured form of chaos, deepening his understanding of the full-back role.
Try TFA Risk Free For 14 Days
Full Access To TFA Articles
New Content 7 Days
Expert Insights
TFA Podcast Access
14 Day Free Trial
Money Back Guarantee