Arsenal warned that €60m star could hand in transfer request

Mikel Arteta has been warned that Benjamin White may push to leave Arsenal next year if he is unable to displace Jurrien Timber in the club’s preferred starting XI.

The Englishman, who moved to the Emirates Stadium from Brighton & Hove Albion for €58.5 million in 2021, has struggled for game time since the start of last season amid Timber’s eye-catching form and several injury issues.

White was a nailed-on starter during his first three years at Arsenal, but he was limited to just 17 Premier League appearances last term, while he has only featured on one occasion in the English top flight so far this campaign.

The ex-England international started Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in their opening fixture of the season, but he missed games against Leeds United and Liverpool due to a knock and he has now been an unused substitute in each of the Gunners’ last four league matches.

Timber has enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2025-26 campaign and former Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes the Dutchman’s form could tempt White to pursue an exit.

Ben White to leave Arsenal?

“When you’ve got such a strong squad, you will have players who aren’t getting regular games,” Smith admitted to Metro.

“Some of them will be thinking, ‘maybe it’s time for a move’. You don’t want to lose them but it’s hard to keep them all happy.

“It all depends on Ben and how he feels about the situation. He might be thinking he wants to get his fair share of games somewhere but he’s also at a club that’s going places.

“We’ll have to wait and see on that one, it’s obviously down to the individuals, but Jurrien Timber is getting the nod at the moment.

“Ben White’s had his injury concerns, but he did have a really good relationship with Bukayo Saka, which maybe Timber hasn’t quite developed just yet.”

White, whose Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €51m, still has over two-and-a-half years remaining on his current contract at Arsenal.

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