Ben White has opened up on Arsenal’s determination to retain the Premier League title while offering insight into his relationship with Bukayo Saka and the qualities of Riccardo Calafiori.
The defender was part of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s squad that finally ended the club’s 22-year wait for the championship last season.
Rather than reducing expectations, White believes that achievement has created a different challenge because Arsenal must now prove they can repeat it while speaking on Men in Blazers.
“We need to go and do it again now,” White said. “So, a slightly different feeling that you’ve done it last season, but obviously want more.”
Arsenal have responded impressively to that challenge by taking maximum points from their opening three Premier League matches.
Victories over Coventry City and Aston Villa were followed by Sunday’s 2-1 comeback against Chelsea, leaving the champions with six goals scored and only one conceded.
White also offered an interesting explanation of his established partnership with Saka on Arsenal’s right flank.
The 28-year-old has frequently combined with the England international through overlapping and inverted runs during his Arsenal career, but insists much of their understanding is instinctive.
“It just happens,” White explained. “I think in the moment if I see certain things going on then I’ll try and get round him or go inside like you said. But yeah, it’s all in the moment.”
White’s comments illustrate the familiarity developed between two players who have spent several seasons operating together on Arsenal’s right side.
He also reserved significant praise for Calafiori, whose impressive beginning to the campaign has given Arteta another versatile option in defence.
“He can do everything really,” White said. “If one thing’s not working for him, he’s got other tools to be successful.”
Calafiori has demonstrated that versatility during Arsenal’s perfect league start, contributing assists against Coventry and Aston Villa while also helping the Gunners maintain their defensive standards.
Away from the more serious discussion, White revealed one particularly unconventional highlight from Arsenal’s title celebrations.
Asked about his favourite memory from the parade, the defender recalled eating a cheeseburger that had been thrown onto the team bus.
White joked that the food was necessary to “soak it all up” during the celebrations, providing a lighter recollection of Arsenal’s long-awaited triumph.
The overriding message from his interview, however, was focused firmly on what comes next.
Arsenal have already achieved something this squad spent several seasons chasing, but White’s comments suggest their first championship under Arteta has increased rather than satisfied their appetite for success.