Arsenal defender Ben White has confessed that he tends to avoid getting “too near” to team-mate Gabriel Martinelli during training sessions.
The versatile right-back has given an insight into the dynamics within the Gunners squad, highlighting the importance of maintaining a competitive edge while also keeping good relationships with fellow players. With two major trophies still up for grabs, the end of the season promises to be exciting for Arsenal.
Despite their illustrious history, the Gunners have failed to win the Premier League since 2004 and have never clinched the Champions League title. White has played a key role in Arsenal’s rise to the top of the table and their journey to the quarter-finals of Europe’s most prestigious club football competition.
In Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at home against Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash, White had an opportunity to score a crucial goal when Arsenal were already leading 1-0. Although he didn’t manage to, he did provide the assist for Bukayo Saka’s opening goal.
White has formed an impressive partnership with Arsenal’s No. 7, but it’s another attacker on the opposite flank who seems to intimidate him, reports the Mirror. In an interview with the club website, the 26-year-old discussed how the team manages relationships during training under Arteta’s guidance.
White says he’s learned to steer clear of Arsenal team-mate Martinelli in training matches – because the forward is so hard to tackle. “I think we have an understanding,” said White. “I play against Gabriel Martinelli every day in training for example, and to be honest, I don’t want to go too near him most of the time, but at the same time we have to keep it competitive.
“But you know there is a line, and it’s the same for everyone. We all come up against the same people each day, and there’s like an unwritten rule that you don’t go in too hard for a 50-50 or something like that. You can save those for the weekend!
“Every day me and Martinelli have a one-v-one battle, but then as soon as the session is over our relationship is so good. You do your best and give everything when you are training, but you need to look after each other too, you have to be clever.”
