What is Arsenal's best centre-back partnership going forward?

Ben White has been crucial for Arsenal so far this season

What is Arsenal's best centre-back partnership going forward?

After multiple summer signings, Mikel Arteta has shaken up his Arsenal starting 11 on a few occasions this season.
Though he seems to have settled on his attack and midfield, the defence is one area that hasn’t quite been sorted out yet.
Aaron Ramsdale has sealed the spot as the club’s number one, but there is still debate about who sits in front of him.
There were rumours that Arteta would employ a back three after defensive woes earlier in the season, but stronger performances have put that to bed for now.
Tomorrow’s match against Crystal Palace is likely to be a further indicator of the rest of the season, and one person who people will want to see more of is Ben White.
White arrived at the club this summer, and fans had high expectations after signing for £50m.
The 24-year-old did not look too convincing in his first league start against Brentford and then suffered a setback when he tested positive for covid.
Since returning, he has looked more assured and managed to keep a clean sheet in his last match against former side Brighton, one of the form teams of the season so far.


White still has plenty of room to improve, and we shouldn’t expect him to become one of the best defenders in the world, or even in the league, overnight.
However, he is looking more comfortable in north London, and he will surely feature in the club’s plans for the foreseeable future.
With White almost guaranteed to feature, it will be interesting to see who features alongside him.
Against Brighton, he was partnered with Gabriel, one of Arsenal’s unsung heroes during the season so far.
Gabriel rarely attracts praise, with several other first-team players often drawing more attention, though more often than not, he performs his duties effectively.
His composure at the back is impressive despite his relative inexperience, and it is essential to note that he is a similar age to White.
The 23-year-old and White could form a long-term partnership together, assuming they both stay in good form and do not get injured.
There are certainly others who will fancy their chances of being a regular first-team centre-back as the season progresses.
Another summer signing, Takehiro Tomiyasu, has consistently impressed since joining and is more than capable of playing in the centre-back role.
However, the Japanese star has seemingly found his groove at right-back, and it is perhaps unlikely that he will be moved, barring injury issues or if the current defensive format proves ineffective.
Rob Holding and Pablo Mari will also fancy their chances of breaking into the first XI, though they will have a tough time doing so.
At this moment in time, it would seem that White and Gabriel are Arsenal’s best centre-back pairing for the foreseeable future.
Whether that stays this way remains to be seen, but recent weeks have looked encouraging and suggest the future could be bright for the club defensively.

Photo Credit: Getty Images 

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