Mikel Arteta was seen to have a tough talk to Ben White during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over the Olympiacos in the Champions League. The 27-year-old defender, replaced by Jurrien Timber in the starting lineup, was given the opportunity to shine at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
Just before Gabriel Martinelli took the lead on the gunner, tapped a rebound from Victor Gyoker’s strike and White threw in front of the manager’s technical area. When the right back went to get the ball back, Arteta pulled him aside.
The Arsenal boss was visibly upset by what he had seen before. A while ago, White committed a foul after being confused by one of the fronts of the Olympiacos.
Many of the Greek plays were directed by his side, and Daniel Podens and Gerson Martins were eager to challenge the British. White replaced the wood in the second half, finishing a challenging evening.
Just before the previous Leeds and Brighton defenders were replaced, Poudence passed him too easily. Luckily for White, Olympiacos missed the opportunity and Arsenal maintained the advantage of one goal.
Before the Olympiacos game, the right-back only played twice for gunners this season. The first day of the new Premier League season and the third round of the Carabao Cup. It was White’s first European football experience since his brief appearance in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals in May.
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Arteta was questioned on Monday about the pressure to compete for increased pressure on his team following a loss by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals last season. The French Titans continued to win the European title by slamming Inter Milan 5-0 at Allianz Arena in Munich.
Arteta replied: “We go to the game by game and have the same ambitions as being better than our opponents. This is extremely difficult in this competition and we win as many games as possible.
“Tomorrow has something really difficult. We know how important the shape of the house is at this stage where we want to arrive. Tomorrow has the opportunity to start well.”
The Arsenal manager first experienced management on the European stage, facing Olympiacos in the Europa League in February 2020. Looking back on his rematch with the Greek champions, Arteta said:
“I remember perfectly when we scored the goal and admitted the equalizer. The last chance we had in the final moments of the game, then what happened when Covid and everything hit, it’s part of the journey to get to where you are.
“It’s a good example to get the place you want to get, like Willie (Saliba). Sometimes you have to experience moments that you probably didn’t expect to experience.”
