Ben White’s Corner Tactic Sparks Excitement and Controversy in Arsenal’s Pre-Season Opener
Arsenal’s pre-season got off to a thrilling start, and it wasn’t just the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth in Los Angeles that had fans talking. Ben White’s antics on set pieces have sent shockwaves through the Premier League, and we’re about to break it all down.
As expected, Mikel Arteta’s team looked sharp in their opening game of the season, with Fabio Vieira netting a stunning volley to open the scoring. However, it was Ben White’s corner-taking skills that really caught the eye.
The 26-year-old full-back has had a busy summer, missing out on England’s Euro 2024 squad but using the extra time to recharge and refocus. He certainly looked full of beans against Bournemouth, treating the opposing goalkeeper Neto to some rather…unsettling antics.
Fans behind the goal caught some fantastic footage of White poking and prodding in the box, doing his best to rattle Neto and disrupt Bournemouth’s set piece routine. The Guardian’s football correspondent, Miguel Delaney, described White’s antics as "theatrical and effective," and it’s hard to argue with that.
Twitter erupted with reactions to White’s exploits, with many fans praising his sheer energy and dedication to the cause. One Twitter user joked that Arsenal had "studied set pieces and came up with a crazy tactic," while another praised White’s "elite s***houser" skills.
Of course, not everyone was impressed. One fan grumbled that White’s antics were "s***housery" and that it wasn’t exactly the most dignified way to play the game. Fair enough, but you can’t deny the results. Arsenal won the penalty shootout 5-4, and it’s clear that White’s set piece work is going to be a key component of their game plan this season.
With Arsenal set to face Manchester United and Liverpool before returning to London to take on Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon at the Emirates Stadium, we’ll be keeping a close eye on White’s set piece exploits. Will they pay off in the Premier League?
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