Brighton boss Graham Potter has praised both Arsenal and Ben White following the 24-year-old's excellent first season in north London.
The Gunners signed White for £50million in the summer transfer window. It was a decision that both Edu and Mikel Arteta were criticised for - especially after veteran winner Raphael Varane moved to Manchester United for considerably less (£35m) than what Arsenal paid for the Englishman. Nevertheless, despite a 'shaky' start, as Potter has described, White has shown his worth in red and white and is now very much part of Arteta's long-term plan.
He struggled against Brentford on debut as the Bees went onto win their first topflight game in 74 years 2-0. He then suffered from a bout with Covid, as his teammates crashed on the pitch and dropped to the bottom of the table before September. Since then, however, he's turned things around. White's forced his way back into Gareth Southgate's England and has helped the Gunners on their quest for Champions League football.
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Now, Potter has praised both player and club for helping White to develop. Speaking at his pre-match press conference for Saturday's clash, as cited by our colleagues at Sussex Live, White's former boss said: "He has certainly made progress and congratulations to him, Mikel [Arteta], and the staff at Arsenal, he's taken a step. When we made the sale we thought that would happen because he's a good age, a good person, good player, good qualities.
"I think Arsenal deserve credit, they identified him, they paid the fee and they recognised what it was they wanted and they have used it well. [He] got off to a shaky start, I think in the first game of the season in a defeat to Brentford but from then he has grown and grown. You can see his quality and what he brings to the team."
Potter's Brighton travel to Emirates Stadium this weekend in what is a crucial clash for Arsenal in the race for top four. White will ultimately be hoping to continue his good form against his former employers.
