Sources: Arsenal virtual ever-present to be handed new role by Arteta next season
Mikel Arteta is keen to hand Ben White a new role at Arsenal next season, Football Insider sources have been told.
The Gunners boss is eager to bring in defensive reinforcements at The Emirates this summer to free up the 25-year-old to return to a centre-back role.
White has primarily played at right-back for Arsenal this season and has been a star performer in their title race, but Arteta is eager to add depth and competition on the right flank to improve his options in defence.
Football Insider sources revealed on Saturday (6 May) that Arsenal are prepared to reignite their interest in Ivan Fresneda with a summer bid.
The 18-year-old Spaniard has been a long-term target for Arsenal, but they face competition from Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund for his signature this summer.
White has been in brilliant form for the Gunners this season and has virtually been ever-present, for the side appearing in all 34 Premier League matches this season as well as making seven cameos in the Europa League and one in the FA Cup.
He has scored twice and assisted five goals for the Gunners while playing 2,706 minutes of football in an Arsenal defence that has conceded only 39 Premier League goals this season.
Arteta has occasionally rotated White with Takehiro Tomiyasu this season, but the Spanish boss ideally wants a new attack-minded right-back to join the club this summer so that he can push White back to a more central role.
White mostly played at centre-back during his time at Leeds United and Brighton before he completed a £50million move to Arsenal in 2021.
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