In a recent candid discussion, Arsenal’s Rob Holding hailed his teammate Ben White as a ‘mentality monster’ for his willingness to play through significant pain against Newcastle.

• Rob Holding praises Ben White as a ‘mentality monster’ for playing through a serious hamstring injury.
• White’s commitment and adaptability have made him a pivotal player for Arsenal.
• Despite setbacks, Arsenal’s resilience led them to become title challengers, with White’s contribution standing out.

Arsenal’s Rob Holding has offered high praise for his fellow defender and close friend Ben White, describing him as a ‘mentality monster’ after White played through a hamstring injury against Newcastle. This commitment came in spite of a painful injury that would have easily sidelined other players.

White, who joined Arsenal from Brighton in 2021 for £50million, faced early scrutiny due to his price tag. However, he quickly silenced his critics, becoming a crucial element in Mikel Arteta’s strategy. Playing both as a right-back and a centre-back, White’s adaptability has made him an invaluable asset to the team.

During the 2021/22 season, White played every game in the Premier League. His debut campaign at the Emirates only saw him miss six matches due to injury.

His physical resilience reached its peak when he played through a serious hamstring tear against Newcastle at the end of the season.

Recalling the incident on Tea With Timbsy, Holding said, “The player who has real discomfort and injuries and just cracks on is Ben White.

“I don’t know how he does it. I have no idea how he does it.

“When we played Newcastle away in the Amazon year (2021/22 season), he would have had a grade two/grade three hamstring injury easily.

“His hamstring was shot to hell and he went out there and played. He’s a mentality monster, I don’t know how he does it. It’s mental.

“He’ll be in so much pain but he’ll just trigger into game mode and play. He’s die-hard. He’ll run through a brick wall for you.”

While White’s determination impressed Holding and fans alike, the match against Newcastle on May 7, 2022, was a challenging one for Arsenal.

The Gunners suffered a 2-0 loss, with White inadvertently scoring an own goal by pushing Joelinton’s cross past Aaron Ramsdale.

Bruno Guimaraes sealed the win for Newcastle, leaving Arsenal reeling from a defeat that came on the heels of a 3-0 loss to Tottenham.

Despite these setbacks, Arsenal continued to build momentum. The following season, under Arteta’s guidance, Arsenal transformed into title contenders, challenging Manchester City for the Premier League trophy.

White’s ability to play through pain and his willingness to sacrifice for the team undoubtedly contributed to Arsenal’s renewed success.