Arsenal defender Ben White admits he doesn't WATCH football

Arsenal’s Ben White admits he doesn’t watch football and has NEVER seen club legend Patrick Vieira play after taking his iconic No 4 shirt… as £50m star prepares to face the Frenchman’s Crystal Palace

  • Arsenal centre-back Ben White has admitted he never usually watches football   
  • He said he prefers to play the game and knows little about history of the game
  • White shares No 4 shirt with club legend Patrick Vieira but never saw him play 
  • The £50m star – who joined from Brighton – also prefers to be called ‘Benjamin’

Arsenal defender Ben White has admitted he was never a football fan when he was younger and rarely watches matches to this day.

The centre-back joined the Emirates from Brighton for £50million this summer and has impressed with his gutsy displays at the back, but despite taking the club’s iconic No 4 shirt – once held by legend Patrick Vieira – he knows little about the famous Frenchman or the history of the game.

White will come up against Vieira when he makes his return to the Emirates on Saturday with Crystal Palace, but when asked if he saw the former midfielder play, the defender revealed he prefers playing football to watching it. 

Arsenal defender Ben White has admitted he never grew up watching football as a child 

‘No I never watched football when I was younger, still don’t now,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘I just loved the game, I was always playing it – never watching it. So I don’t know too much about older generations. 

‘I know [Vieira] was a very good player. But I wouldn’t know the details. I’m quite busy, I’m always doing something. I watch myself for analytical reasons. I watch England, maybe. I just wouldn’t just sit down and watch a game.’

White – who was playing in League Two with Newport County just three years ago – made his name in the Championship with Leeds United two seasons ago, before getting his big break with boyhood side Brighton last season and turning heads with some solid displays at the back.

The centre-back signed for £50m this summer and took the club’s iconic number four shirt

It was once held by legend Patrick Vieira, but White revealed he has never seen him play

His performances caught the attention of England boss Gareth Southgate, who named him in his preliminary squad for Euro 2020. He initially did not make the final 26-man squad, but was called up as a replacement for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold. He did not make an appearance at the tournament.

White said he found football to be ‘intense’ and gave his everything to keep improving – meaning that when he finishes training he prefers to ‘not think about’ the sport and prepare to go again the next day. 

‘It’s so intense, you come in every day and give 100 per cent,’ he added. ‘All I want to do is go home and not think about it. Come in fresh and ready to give 100 per cent again. 

White also pointed out that he prefers to go by ‘Benjamin’, despite many fans and the media calling him Ben. ‘You can call me whatever you want, I just might not reply,’ he said, ‘But my name is actually Benjamin.’ 

White – who prefers to be called ‘Benjamin’, said the ‘intense’ game made him want to switch off after he finishes training for the day 

White has impressed so far with the Gunners despite making a slow start to life at the Emirates

He endured a tough start to his Gunners career as Arsenal lost their first three games of the season, conceding nine goals and scoring none at the other end, while White was also forced to sit out after testing positive for Covid-19. 

He hailed his team-mates and club staff for welcoming him to the Emirates and said he was determined to keep as many clean sheets as possible after helping the club turn a corner. 

‘The first game didn’t go very well,’ he said. ‘Then I got Covid and missed two games. Then we were straight back in and that’s where we picked up,’ he said.

‘I don’t think adapting to a big club (was a reason for my slow start). It didn’t feel like a big club when I came here. Everyone is so nice and welcoming.

‘Clean sheets are the aim for the team. I don’t think it’s just the back four and goalie that keep a clean sheet – it’s the whole team. It’s come into my game since I’ve been at Arsenal – the love of defending and keeping a clean sheet.’




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