Shaun Wright-Phillips has boldly claimed that Ben White is a better signing than Raphael Varane as the former Man City star excited at the £50million man's arrival at Arsenal.
White, 23, sealed his mega-money move to the Gunners following the Euros this summer, having impressed at Brighton last season and under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds in 2019-20.
Eyebrows have been raised, however, at the huge fee Arsenal have shelled out for the Englishman, particularly given the backdrop of Manchester United signing four-time Champions League winner Varane for £42m.
But Wright-Phillips, whose father Ian is hailed as an Arsenal legend, believes that Mikel Arteta has landed the better defender, lavishing praise on White's 'old-school mentality'.
‘One thing I thought Arsenal missed was a defender like him,’ Wright-Phillips told talkSPORT via Metro. ‘He’s got old an old-school mentality but he can play football as well.’
Asked if White will do better at Arsenal than Varane at United, he added: ‘Yes I personally do. I know it’s a big statement, but he is used to the Premier League and he is used to defending a lot for Brighton, week in, week out.
‘Varane has come into a whole new league and he is going to put under immense pressure.’
Asked which of the two defenders he would rather sign, if he had the choice, Wright-Phillips claimed: ‘At this moment, I would definitely say Ben White.’
White arrives in North London with big expectations to help fix Arsenal's leaky and, on occasion, calamitous defence.
Despite boasting one of the best defensive records in the league last season, comical defending proved to be the Gunners' undoing as Arteta's side finished in eighth position - failing to qualify for European football of any kind.
Meanwhile, Varane is the missing piece of United's defence that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has long sought, with Victor Lindelof proving to be an unreliable partner for £80m man Harry Maguire.
Varane's vast experience - in which he has won all there is to win at club level, as well as the World Cup - is hoped to help United finally win silverware under the Norwegian.
Tazbdeksy
772
Hehe okk😊let’s wait for the season Seems prophets are many out there I hear white will do better than varane🤪🤪
Heavy_d
622
i am seeing varene struggle in the epl I am just saying no add feeling it happen a lot with stars from other is the underate ones that mostly shines
KingJerryTheGreat
565
One has already won all the trophies that the other can only dream of. -Club World Cup -League title. -World Cup. -UCL -Uefa Super Cup -Domestic cup I don't need to mention the name do I...??
KingJerryTheGreat
416
Manchester United Fans to Shaun Wright Phillips after such comments.
Miockmnt
252
should also add spurs' Romero in comparison
Chima92
17
i am seeing varene struggle in the epl I am just saying no add feeling it happen a lot with stars from other is the underate ones that mostly shines
I am also seeing Arsenal going trophyless for years to come! Keep seeing rubbish!
Shauny300
15
i am seeing varene struggle in the epl I am just saying no add feeling it happen a lot with stars from other is the underate ones that mostly shines
bro shut because if Varane & Ben white to player for the same team & the coach can only choose one to play Varane definitely would start without a doubt stop being delusional
Babaipal123
11
i am seeing varene struggle in the epl I am just saying no add feeling it happen a lot with stars from other is the underate ones that mostly shines
varane won ucl 4 times where he stop dangerous attacks of best epl teams
nenye
11
i am seeing varene struggle in the epl I am just saying no add feeling it happen a lot with stars from other is the underate ones that mostly shines
Tou forget the romance between these pundits and English players
Red_Devil_United
9
i am seeing varene struggle in the epl I am just saying no add feeling it happen a lot with stars from other is the underate ones that mostly shines
Coming from someone who "see" arsenal is a big club and "see" arteta is a useful manager. Yeah ok.
stacks_chelsea
8
i am seeing varene struggle in the epl I am just saying no add feeling it happen a lot with stars from other is the underate ones that mostly shines
Sorry, but this is such a bad take. Varane has faced more dangerous opposition in his whole career-msn just to name one 💀 , plays Messi week in week out via la liga and has multiple titles to back up his talents. It’s no fluke. Ben white is unproven, English, and plays for a lower tier side who’s downgrading by moving to arsenal. And he costs almost the same as varane!!!! Arsenal got scammed, typical arsenal fans think that Varane flops are straight up delusional
fezekmoz
8
i am seeing varene struggle in the epl I am just saying no add feeling it happen a lot with stars from other is the underate ones that mostly shines
Do not just see him now, first wait and meet him then we can welcome your comments!