Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told to drop "absolutely dreadful" Ben White in new-look defence

dailystar.co.uk:

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should drop "absolutely dreadful" Ben White in favour of the returning William Saliba ahead of next season.The England international was a mainstay in the Gunners defence alongside fellow centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes in the campaign just gone, following his £50million move from Brighton last summer.

Despite many feeling White impressed during his debut year in north London, the 24-year-old endured a disastrous end to the season as he contributed to Arsenal's Champions League capitulation by putting through his own net in a costly 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at St James' Park.Meanwhile, Marseille had no such trouble qualifying for Europe's elite club competition as they finished as Ligue 1 runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain - largely thanks to the contributions of Arsenal loanee Saliba.

The centre-back scooped the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award for his efforts, prompting Arteta to assert his intentions to include the 21-year-old in his first-team plans next season.READ MORE: Arsenal signing Gabriel Jesus to be cheered on at Emirates by sexy influencer girlfriendAnd former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor believes the Gunners boss should go one better by making Saliba a regular starter.

In his view, the Frenchman, who is yet to play a minute of Premier League football for Arsenal since signing in a £27m deal back in 2019, should usurp White in Arteta's starting XI as the English centre-back is "absolutely dreadful"."I’ve watched Saliba a few times and he’s got that speed that you like to see in a centre-half," Agbonlahor told Football Insider. "He’s very good at making the right decision at the right time."Arsenal’s defence is nowhere near good enough to get top-four.