Ben White Leeds
Viktor Gyokeres has been reunited with his former Brighton teammate Ben White at Arsenal, marking a significant moment for both players who have traversed different paths to reach the Premier League. The duo, who came through the ranks together at Brighton, now find themselves playing under the same banner with the Gunners. White has been absent since the match against Manchester United but is believed to be nearing a return. Meanwhile, Gyokeres has firmly established himself as the starting striker, especially following injuries to Kai Havertz and the continued absence of Gabriel Jesus.
The connection between White and Gyokeres was re-established during pre-season when the Swedish striker joined Arsenal. After a potential move for Benjamin Sesko was bypassed, Arsenal’s attention swiftly turned to Gyokeres, who was acquired in less than a month. White admitted to having conversations with Gyokeres prior to his arrival, providing some insight into their discussions.
Ben White said: “Yeah, I know Viktor really well. We played together at Brighton for a long time, maybe three or four years, and I could tell even then that he was always destined for greatness. From the moment he came to Brighton, he was brought into the under-21s group, and you could see he had something special about him at that age. It was always me and him going up from the youth team to go and train with the first team all the time, so we spent a lot of time together. We never really broke into the first team consistently there, but we were always on the edges of it when we were young. It’s funny how things happen because we both went out on loan at different places, and now, of course, we’ve ended up at the same place after taking very different paths. I spoke to him a little bit before he signed, but there was a lot going on, so I didn’t want to bother him. All I said to him was that he would love it here, but I think he knew that already.”
White continued: “Haha yeah, he’s a monster! He lives for goals doesn’t he? He’s a constant threat. You really don’t want to get in his way when you are playing against him, because he’ll just move you out of the way anyway! He’s such a big presence, and I think it will be a massive help that he’s already played in English football. But for Viktor, he’s well used to it. He played at Coventry, and I played loads of games with him at Brighton. So he’s seen it, he knows what it’s going to be like and what to expect from the defenders. I can’t say a bad word about him, to be honest. He’s one of the most professional trainers I’ve ever seen; he’s right up there with Martin Odegaard in that respect.”
The reunion of White and Gyokeres at Arsenal not only highlights their shared history but also underscores the potential impact Gyokeres could have in the Premier League. White’s admiration for Gyokeres’ professionalism and readiness for English football suggests that the Swedish striker is well-equipped to handle the challenges ahead. As Arsenal looks to strengthen their squad, the presence of players like Gyokeres and White could prove pivotal in their pursuit of success this season.
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